BREAKING: Red Sox Trade For Sonny Gray From The St. Louis Cardinals | Instant Reaction + Analysis

[Music] Breaking news, ladies and gentlemen. The Boston Red Sox have made a trade. Jeff Pass and with the tweet here, John Haymon was the first one to report it. The Red Sox acquire right-hander Sunny Gray in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals. We’ll talk about everything you need to know in today’s edition of the Red Sox rundown. I am your host, Jack Lay. This is why you subscribe because when the Red Sox make a move, we make a video. I put a short out right before this with the original news. And in this video, we are going to break down everything you need to know. And we’re going to do this the entire off seasonason long because I would assume the Red Sox are not done. I would hope and I would pray that this is just step one in a multi-step plan to make the Red Sox a World Series contender in 2026. So, you’re not going to want to miss any of it. Hit that sub button if you’ve not already joined the channel for the latest around the Boston Red Sox. So, Sunny Gray headed to the Red Sox. There was talks that Sunny Gray would be available on the trade market. Uh there were talks obviously that the Red Sox were going to be looking for a trade. He waved his no trade clause to leave and he now joins the Boston Red Sox. And we have the full trade details. Here is the full trade. Sunny Gray headed to Boston as well as $20 million cash. The Cardinals are receiving Richard Fitz. Yes, Dick Fitz is headed to St. Louis. and Brandon Clark, the number five prospect in the Red Sox system, another pitcher as well. So, I was lukewarm on this trade at first. And the reason why was one of the reasons why at least is because Sunny Gay was owed three years $75 million for the rest of his contract. Well, according to Ken Rosenthal, that is actually not the case. The contract was reworked to a one-year plus mutual option. The 2026 salary will be $31 million and the mutual option buyout is $10 million. So essentially Sunny Gay is getting a one-year $41 million contract. And then when you add the $20 million that the Cardinals are sending to the Red Sox, essentially you’re paying Sunny Gay a one-year $21 million deal. Like I said, he was previously due 35 and 26 with a $5 million buyout on a $30 million club option in 27. Um, and then of course, this was before we got the trade details, but basically what’s happening is the Red Sox are sending Richard Fitz and Brandon Clark to the St. Louis Cardinals for Sunny Gray on a one-year 21ish 20-ish million deal. You let me know in the comments, what is your one-word reaction to the Sunny Gray trade? I would say mine’s probably lukewarm. That’s probably the best way I could put that. But you let me know down below. What is your one-word reaction to the sunny gray trade? So, like I said, my one word is lukewarm. Originally, I hated this trade. I thought this trade was horrible because of the money. The fact that now they have reworked his contract to again basically a one-year deal and they are bringing on $20 million makes me feel at least a little bit better. However, this cannot be the only starting pitching transaction that the Red Sox make this off season. If we look at Sunny Gray over the past four seasons, you know, he’s a he’s a vet. He’s been around the league for a while, but you could argue in 2023, he had arguably the best outing, best season of his entire career. He finished third, I believe it is, in Sai Young voting that season. Like, he’s still got some juice in the tank. Uh, yet second in Sai Young voting, excuse me. Second in Sai Young voting in 2023 when he was with the Minnesota Twins. He was an all-star that year as well. But I I’m not I’m not convinced that he’s your number two. You know, in 2025, you know, 180 innings pitched. a fip of, you know, three uh 339, a 428 erra. Um, but there’s a lot of underlying metrics here that are at least interesting to say the least. I think the biggest things you can take away from these baseball savant screenshots is he eats innings, he strikes people out, he doesn’t walk people. That’s the biggest thing you’re going to get from Sunny Gray. I think a lot of people are going to compare this, and I would as well to Lucas Gilito. think this is your Lucas Gilito replacement. It cannot be your number two, but for one year 20 million and if you gave Lucas Gileto the qualifying offer, that was one year$22 million. So you’re really getting a Lucas Giloesque pitcher for 20ish million. Now you had to give prospects away. And you know, maybe Brezlo and Bailey think very highly of Sunny Gray, which I could definitely see, but at the end of the day, he eats innings. He doesn’t walk a bunch and he strikes out a bunch. So, I don’t hate that. I don’t I don’t hate adding Sunny Gray to this rotation. I think he could be a very valuable member of the Red Sox in 2026, but I want to make this super super abundantly clear. He’s not your number two. He cannot be your number two. I’d probably slot him behind Brian Beo if I was being honest. Like I said, he is your Lucas Golito replacement, which I didn’t really think you needed a Lucas Gita replacement. I was very, you know, happy with the depth that you had in your starting rotation, especially in the minors. Like, you had a lot of really interesting guys. And now I guess Sunny Graden is your three, maybe your four, but he can’t be your number two. I’m just I’m going to stake my claim here. I’m going to be abundantly abundantly clear. If Sunny Gray is your number two going into spring training, okay, if he is your number two after Brezlo promised, didn’t promise, but he he got on his high horse and he said he was super confident. We need to get that top end top-of-the-line starter that can go up with Garrett Crochet and be a guy that starts you playoff games and this and that and the other. And if Sunny Gray is who he believes is that guy, I think Craig Brezlo should be fired because that is malpractice. Sunny Gray is not that. You may see some interesting traits in Sunny Gray. But he’s not your number two. He will not be your number two. If Freddy Peralta gets traded to another team, if McKenzie Gore gets traded to another team, god forbid Joe Ryan gets traded for to another team, and you’re left with Sunny Gray. Come on, man. You can’t get on your pedestal. You can’t get on your high horse and say, “Yeah, we’re we’re we’re looking for another stud to go toe-to-toe with Garrett Crochet to be that number two.” Sunny Gray is not that perfectly fine pitcher. One-year deal. Replace Lucas Gino. I’m all fine for that. But he cannot be the only move that you make for a starter this season. Let’s talk about what they gave away. Richard Fitz, Rip Dick Fitz, rest in peace. Uh it was fun. I actually got to meet him at uh onfield photo day in the summer. He’s a really cool dude. Um look, didn’t work out in Boston. I had some lingering injuries that he was dealing with, so it is what it is. Um, but I was actually very excited to see how he was gonna do in 2026. I thought he was going to compete for that backend rotation spot and it just didn’t work out. So, you know, Heim Bloom, you know, Richard Fitz and Brandon Clark both were not connected to Heim Bloom at all. But, I guess Heim Bloom saw something in Richard Fitz that he really liked. I think he’ll probably compete for a starter spot in St. Louis this year. And, uh, yeah, it is what it is. Brandon Clark on the other hand, number five prospect according to Mob Pipeline. But what I’m hearing from a lot of people is that’s kind of skewed because he had, I guess, a a pretty good summer that kind of rocketed him up the standings. Tyler Milikin uh basically said that he thinks he projects out more to number 10 to 15 in the Red Sox pipeline. So, I wouldn’t put too much stock into him being the number five prospect in the league, but he’s got a highpowered arm. He’s very intrigued and uh you know he profiles as a reliever, but if the Cardinals can bring him in and you know make him into a starter, he could be absolutely filthy. My overall take on this trade is this. I have high hopes. I had high hopes for Richard Fitz. Like I said, I thought he could compete for that backend number five spot in your rotation. Would he get it? I don’t know. There’s a lot of depth like we’ve already talked about. Um and and Clark is highly regarded. Again, like maybe not as highly regarded as number five in the Red Sox pipeline rankings. Like I said, he probably profiles more 10 to 15 in the pipeline rankings, but he’s got nasty stuff. And if and and he has the potential to be a really really nasty starting pitcher, not starting pitcher, excuse me, reliever. But again, if if if uh him bloom likes what he sees and he can bring him in and they can shift him into a starter, he could turn into, you know, a pretty filthy starter if all things work out. I don’t love this trade as a whole. If big if I don’t love this trade if Sunny Gray is your number two. I’m okay with giving away the prospects to take to eat for the Cardinals to eat a lot of the money. I think that he could be a very very very you know impactful number three number four in the rotation. But like I’ve already said with um with Craig Brezlo, if Craig Brelo thinks that his work is done and Sunny Gay is the number two, uh-uh, Red Sox nation’s not going to be happy after over the last few weeks, he has stood on his soap box and said, “We need that that dog at number two.” Sunny Gray is a good dude. Sunny Gray is a decent pitcher. He ain’t a dog. He is not a dog and he is not your number two. Grade the sunny gray trade for me. A, B, C, D, or F. Originally, I was at like a D. With the money coming back from St. Louis, I’ll give it a C plus, but I’ll give it a B minus. You know, I’ll give it a B minus because you’re only paying you’re paying him less than the qualifying offer that you would have given to Lucas Gilito if he is your GO replacement. If he turns out to be your number two, that’s like a D trade. Seriously. Like like seriously. But if he ends up being your three or your four, I’ll give it a B minus because they got some of the money off the books. It really is just a bonafide one-year deal. And uh you know, I hopefully I think he can contribute in this Red Sox system. That’s where we’re going to end it, guys. Thank you all so much for taking the time to watch this video. Like I said, I said this I think in yesterday’s video or the video before, like stuff is going to start to happen. Boom. Next day, Sunny Gay is traded to the Boston Red Sox. When the Red Sox make a move, we make a video. This is going to come out just over an hour after the news originally broke. I got my producer Xavier in here. We got the graphics ready. We got the copy ready and we are bringing you the news. So, make sure you subscribe. Don’t miss out because as more moves happen, and again, I truly firmly believe that the Red Sox are not done. I hope and I pray to the baseball gods that Brel is not done trying to add starting pitchers. So, when those moves happen, we’re gonna make videos just like this. So, don’t miss out. Hit that subscribe button. And until next time, go socks. [Music]

Breaking News: The Boston Red Sox traded for starting pitcher Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals on the Red Sox Rundown by Chat Sports. Right handed pitcher Sonny Gray will be playing in his 13th MLB season for the 2026 MLB season. Red Sox Rundown host Jack Lautaret looks at Sonny Gray highlights and stats from the 2025 MLB season with the St. Louis Cardinals as well as reviews the trade and gives his thoughts on Red Sox GM Craig Breslow’s decision to make the MLB trade.

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MLB Insider Jeff Passan on Sonny Gray trade:
“The Boston Red Sox are acquiring right-hander Sonny Gray in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, sources tell ESPN. The Red Sox get the veteran who said he would waive his no-trade clause to leave.”

RHP Sonny Gray contract from Chris Cotillo:
“First major domino for the Red Sox. Gray has a year left on his 3-year, $75M deal and also a club option for 2027.”

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Sonny Gray Trade details:
– Red Sox Receive: Sonny Gray (SP), Cash
– Cardinals Receive: Richard Fitts (SP), Brandon Clarke (#5)

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MLB Sonny Gray trade from Jared Carrabis:
“Odd Sonny Gray trade. On one hand, you need a guy who can give you innings. He can do that. On the other hand, Breslow said the Red Sox are targeting a No. 2 starter. Gray is not that. He’s also quite expensive (assuming STL is eating money) and I’d rather spend that elsewhere.”

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RHP Sonny Gray career stats:
119.2 IP, 3.08 ERA, 117 K, 36 BB, 3.40 FIP
184.0 IP, 2.79 ERA, 183 K, 55 BB, 2.83 FIP
166.1 IP, 3.84 ERA, 203 K, 39 BB, 3.12 FIP
180.2 IP, 4.28 ERA, 201 K, 38 BB, 3.39 FIP

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– Red Sox Rumors On Trading For Ketel Marte Or Brenden Donovan + Red Sox NOT Adding Two New Bats? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG46u-1tiZc&t
– Red Sox Rumors: Jarren Duran Or Wilyer Abreu Trade A CERTAINTY? Freddy Peralta Trade Coming Soon? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANrsO2IuFzY&t
– Red Sox Commit HIGHWAY ROBBERY At The Rule 5 Deadline Ft. Luke Heyman & Braiden Ward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yu9MDQ3Nno&t

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Boston Red Sox outfield options:
Jarren Duran
Ceddanne Rafaela
Wilyer Abreu
Roman Anthony
Masataka Yoshida
Kristian Campbell
Jhostynxon Garcia

Join the family and answer these Red Sox questions right here:
– Red Sox trade rumors: What is your one-word reaction to the Sonny Gray trade?
– Sonny Gray trade rumors: Grade the Sonny Gray trade! Type ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ in the comments

Brandon Clarke 2025 stats:
IP: 38
ERA: 4.03
K: 60
BB: 27
WHIP: 1.158

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Richard Fitts 2025 stats:
IP: 45
ERA: 5.00
K: 40
BB: 16
FIP: 5.80

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35 comments

  7. A-
    11th in MLB in Ks
    Low 3 FIP
    Workhorse – makes his starts
    Cost: QO + Fitts (no fit on roster), Clarke (BA outside of top 10 – had no control)
    This is a brilliant move. They might get another arm, but they pulled a true 2 without affecting current roster.
    Still assets to make a big splash.
    Compare Gray’s ’25 stats to Peralta, Cease, Ryan & you will see, he was the best pitcher. He’s a dawg

  12. I'm ok with this trade as long as he's not the number 2 pitcher. If he replaces Gioloto that's good if he's the number 2 I don't like it. In any case I've been thinking all off season they would be doing moves no one is talking about and think that will continue we'll see what happens 🤞 ⚾

  13. Good trade, not a number but good trade especially cutting some of his money, tons of strikeout very few walks and Fitts is never really going to make it. Clark is good but control problems. Red Sox draft last year was huge and a couple of them are are projected as better already.

  15. I would not assume that the Sox are still in the starting pitching market.

    I think they do not want a long term commitment of a free agent signing, not to mention the dollars and draft picks it would cost.

    I am also speculating that trade targets such as Greene, Ryan, Peralta, Gore, etc. may not actually be available or the cost to pry them away is not a place the Sox want to go.

    I think for 2026 Gray is the #2, a stop gap that allows one year for guys like Tolle, Perales, Witherspoon, and Early to potentially develop into top of rotation options.

  22. I wouldn't trade Brandon Clarke straight up for Sonny Gray! Fitts and Clarke are 2 of my favorite prospects. Bloom is good at this too. Identifying young talent. This is a bad trade.

  24. I hope this isn’t our #2 pitcher because he has been up and down in his career. It’s just for one year which is ok. It’s probably them not wanting to spend because of possible lockout in 2027.

  35. Good!

    Gray was on my should target list. Personally I would have liked Masa going back to free up the DH but the $20m is still nice. 20m gets you another arm or could help with another bat.

    Sox still need to get a proper number 2 but Gray is a great start, especially for $15m on this years AAV. For 2 guys who fit as relievers with the Sox.

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