An agreement has been reached whereby the Boston Red Sox will welcome seasoned right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray, as a result of a transaction completed with the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Tuesday’s official statements.
The Cardinals will gain the services of left-handed pitching talent Brandon Clarke, in addition to right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts, as compensation. Sources close to ESPN’s Jeff Passan have indicated that the Red Sox will also contribute $20 million to partially offset Gray’s contractual compensation.
Gray, now at 36 years of age, formally consented to the revocation of his no-trade provision, clearing the path for his departure from the Cardinals. His performance last year resulted in a 14-8 win-loss record, accompanied by an earned run average (ERA) of 4.28, with consistent participation in St. Louis’s games.
Initially, his contract promised him $40 million across the subsequent two years: $35 million for the 2026 season, and a $5 million settlement concerning a $30 million club-held option for 2027. Revisions were made to this arrangement, guaranteeing him $41 million: comprising a $31 million wage for the approaching year, and a mutually agreed upon option for 2027 at $30 million, alongside a $10 million buyout provision.
The acquisition of Gray, combined with the established excellence of Garrett Crochet in their starting lineup, results in the Red Sox now possessing two prominent pitchers, each distinguished by achieving at least 200 strikeouts in each of the past two seasons, as documented by ESPN Research. Gray tallied 201 strikeouts during the previous season, preceded by 203 strikeouts in 2024.
Craig Breslow, the chief baseball officer for the Red Sox, had voiced that bolstering the starting pitching roster beyond Crochet was a designated focal point for the team’s activities during the offseason.
Gray’s tenure within Major League Baseball spans 13 years, attaining All-Star recognition as recently as 2023. His career encompasses a 125-102 record, and he maintains a 3.58 ERA throughout 330 starts.
Clarke, standing at 6-foot-4 and aged 22, is noted for a fastball that can reach speeds up to 100 mph, complemented by an effective slider. He pitched across 38 innings within Class A this season, with 60 strikeouts versus 27 walks, leading to a 4.03 ERA.
Fitts, who will be 26 next month, posted a 2-4 record with a 5.00 ERA over the course of 10 starts during his inaugural season with the Red Sox. He accumulated 40 strikeouts but allowed 11 home runs in 45 innings pitched.
“[Fitts] has commenced his career within the major leagues, and based on the strength of his abilities and his proactive approach within the strike zone, he maintains the capability to initiate games at the highest professional level over an extended period,” stated Chaim Bloom, the president of baseball operations for the Cardinals, who formerly occupied that role with the Red Sox.
“Both individuals offer considerable potential to contribute as fundamental components of our evolving team in the long term.”
The Associated Press played a role in the composition of this piece.
