Red Sox Acquire Sonny Gray, Expected to Anchor Rotation Behind Crochet

The Boston Red Sox acquired 36-year-old right-hander Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals, sending Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke in return. The Cardinals will pay $20 million of Gray's $41 million salary for 2026, making his cost to the Red Sox $21 million. In 2025, Gray posted a 4.28 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 32 starts, but his 3.39 FIP suggests better underlying performance. He recorded 201 strikeouts and 38 walks, leading the NL in K/BB ratio. Gray has been durable, making 30+ starts in three of the last five seasons and pitching 166+ innings in each of the last three. Despite a declining fastball velocity, his breaking balls remain elite. He is projected to be Boston's No. 2 starter behind Garrett Crochet.