Red Sox Acquire Veteran Pitcher Sonny Gray in Trade with Cardinals
The Boston Red Sox have completed a trade to acquire veteran pitcher Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals. Gray, who waived his no-trade clause, will join the Red Sox on a reworked contract for one year with a mutual option for 2027. The Cardinals will cover $20 million of Gray's remaining salary as part of the deal. The trade also involves pitching prospects Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke heading to St. Louis.
Sonny Gray, a three-time All-Star and former AL Cy Young Award runner-up, had a solid season in 2025 with a 14-8 record and a 4.28 ERA. The 36-year-old right-hander has an impressive career record of 125-102 with a 3.58 ERA over more than 330 starts for various teams. Gray's performance last season included 201 strikeouts, marking the second consecutive year he surpassed the 200-strikeout mark.
Richard Fitts, 25, made his MLB debut with the Red Sox last season, while Brandon Clarke, 22, showed promise with his high-end velocity and strikeout potential in the minors. Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom praised Fitts for his power stuff and strike zone aggressiveness, indicating that both prospects have the potential to contribute significantly in the long term.
The Red Sox, who made the postseason in 2025 after a four-year absence, are looking to bolster their pitching staff with the addition of Sonny Gray. Meanwhile, the Cardinals, who missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year in 2025, are hoping to benefit from the young talent acquired in the trade. The deal signifies a strategic move for both teams as they aim to strengthen their rosters for the upcoming season.