Red Sox Bolster Pitching with Sonny Gray: Trade Details and Analysis

Red Sox Bolster Rotation with Sonny Gray Acquisition

The Boston Red Sox have finalized a strategic move to strengthen their pitching staff. In a recent agreement, the team has acquired the experienced right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray, coming from the St. Louis Cardinals. In return, the Cardinals will receive left-handed prospect Brandon Clarke and right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts. In addition, the Red Sox will provide $20 million to cover part of Gray’s salary. Gray, 36, waived his no-trade clause to facilitate his arrival in Boston. During the past season, the three-time All-Star recorded a 14-8 record with a 4.28 ERA, proving to be a consistent and reliable pitcher. Gray’s contract guarantees $41 million: a $31 million salary for next year and a mutual option of $30 million for 2027, with a $10 million buyout. With the addition of Gray, the Red Sox now have two pitchers capable of recording at least 200 strikeouts in the last two seasons, along with Garrett Crochet. Gray struck out 201 batters last season, after having achieved 203 strikeouts in 2024. Red Sox’s chief baseball officer Craig Breslow had pointed out the need to add a starting pitcher behind Crochet as one of the team’s goals for the offseason, and the deal for Gray provides Boston with significant depth in its starting rotation heading into 2026. Alongside Crochet and Gray, right-handers Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford are present, with several left-handed options for the back end of the rotation: veteran Patrick Sandoval, 24-year-old Kyle Harrison, and a pair of rookies who pitched significant innings late this year, Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. Right-hander Hunter Dobbins suffered a torn ACL in July, but is expected to be back for spring training. Veteran right-hander Tanner Houck underwent Tommy John surgery in August and is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season.

Although the Red Sox have shown interest in Minnesota’s right-hander, Joe Ryan, among other trade targets for starting pitchers, they opted for the short-term play with Gray, who has pitched in the Major Leagues for 13 years, reaching the All-Star team as recently as 2023. He has a career record of 125-102 with an ERA of 3.58 in 330 starts.

We’ve been pretty transparent about our desire to add to the rotation, and our desire to add a bat.

Craig Breslow

Clarke, 22 years old and 6 feet 4 inches tall, has a fastball that can reach 100 mph, combined with an effective slider. He pitched 38 innings in Class A this season, striking out 60 batters, but giving up 27 walks, with an ERA of 4.03. Fitts, who will turn 26 next month, went 2-4 with a 5.00 ERA in 10 starts for the Red Sox in his rookie season. He struck out 40 batters and allowed 11 home runs in 45 innings.

[Fitts] has already begun his career in the major leagues, and with his power and willingness to attack the strike zone, he has the ability to start games at the highest level for many years.

Chaim Bloom