St. Louis Cardinals trade Sonny Gray to Boston Red Sox | News, Sports, Jobs

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox acquired 36-year-old right-hander Sonny Gray, a three-time All-Star, from the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday for righty Richard Fitts and a prospect.

Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow had said adding a starting pitcher behind ace Garrett Crochet was one of the team’s goals for the offseason. Gray gives them a dependable option who could take some of the pressure off the rest of the rotation.

Gray went 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA for the Cardinals last season, striking out 201 batters and walking 38 in 32 starts — the best ratio in the National League. He is one of five pitchers to record at least 200 strikeouts in each of the last two seasons.

In a 13-year career with five teams, he is 125-102 with a 3.58 ERA and three All-Star Game appearances.

Fitts, who turns 26 next month, was 2-4 with a 5.00 ERA as a rookie in Boston last season. The Cardinals also will acquire 22-year-old lefty Brandon Clarke, a fifth-round draft pick who has pitched only in Class A and is rated the No. 5 prospect in the Red Sox system by MLB.com, and a player to be named or cash.

“Richard Fitts has already begun his big league career, and with his power stuff and willingness to attack the strike zone, he has the ability to start games at the highest level for many years. Brandon Clarke is an exciting left-handed prospect whose ceiling rivals that of any pitcher in the minor leagues,” said Cardinals President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom, who previously held that job with the Red Sox. “Both have the potential to be part of our growing core for a long time.”

St. Louis will send Boston $20 million as part of the trade, reducing Gray’s cost to the Red Sox to $21 million.

Gray had been guaranteed $40 million for the next two seasons: $35 million for 2026 and a $5 million buyout of a $30 million team option for 2027. His contract was changed to guarantee him $41 million: a $31 million salary for next year and a $30 million mutual option for 2027 with a $10 million buyout.

Ohtani set for WBC

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani plans to play for Japan in next year’s World Baseball Classic, the two-way Los Angeles Dodgers star announced on social media Monday night.

Ohtani helped Japan win the 2023 WBC, striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out of the championship game against the United States. He was named MVP of the tournament.

Ohtani won his fourth MVP award this month, shortly after he helped the Dodgers win their second straight World Series title. He returned to the mound this season after not pitching in 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

In the postseason, he had arguably the best game in major league history, striking out 10 batters and hitting three homers as the Dodgers completed a four-game NL Championship Series sweep of Milwaukee.

Ohtani did not specify in his post whether he plans to pitch for Japan in the WBC, which begins on March 5.

Braves pay Payamps

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves and right-hander Joel Payamps agreed to a one-year, $2.25 million deal on Monday in another move to retain a veteran member of the team’s bullpen.

Atlanta claimed Payamps off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers on Sept. 22. Payamps, 31, allowed one run in 2ª innings with Atlanta and finished the season with a 6.84 ERA overall in 30 games.

Payamps has a 3.41 ERA with 10 saves in seven seasons. He set a career high with six saves for Milwaukee in 2024.

The agreement with Payamps is Atlanta’s second move in less than a week to keep a veteran right-handed reliever. The Braves re-signed closer Raisel Iglesias to a one-year, $16 million deal announced Wednesday.

Atlanta has had a busy start to its offseason. The team on Wednesday also acquired Mauricio Dubon from the Houston Astros for Nick Allen.