Red Sox acquire pitcher Sonny Gray in trade with Cardinals
Updated: 1:31 PM EST Nov 25, 2025
The Boston Red Sox have acquired veteran starting pitcher Sonny Gray in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, the team confirmed Tuesday afternoon.The Red Sox also received cash considerations from the Cardinals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts, left-handed pitcher Brandon Clarke and a player to be named later or cash considerations.Gray, 36, is entering his 14th major league season. The right-hander started 32 games for the Cardinals in 2025, going 14-8 with a 4.28 earned run average and 201 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings pitched. Fitts, 25, started 10 games for Boston in 2025, going 2-4 with a 5.00 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched.Clarke, 22, was the No. 5 prospect in the Red Sox’s minor league system, according to MLB Pipeline. Boston drafted Clarke in the fifth round in 2024 and this year, he posted a 0.93 ERA with 17 strikeouts in three starts with Class-A Salem. But in 11 starts with High-A Greenville, Clarke went 0-3 with a 5.08 ERA and 43 strikeouts.Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network, who was the first to report the trade, said Gray waived his no-trade clause and agreed to be sent to Boston, as did ESPN’s Jeff Passan.Passan also reported the Cardinals are sending $20 million to the Red Sox to cover Gray’s salary.According to Spotrac, Gray is in the final year of a three-year, $75 million he signed with the Cardinals in November 2023. Gray has a $35 million salary for 2026 and his contract includes a $30 million mutual option for 2027 with a $5 million buyout.Gray, a three-time All-Star, has played for the Oakland Athletics (2013-17), New York Yankees (2017-18), Cincinnati Reds (2019-21), Minnesota Twins (2022-23) and St. Louis (2024-25).He has a career regular-season record of 125-102 with a 3.58 ERA and 1,925 strikeouts. In the postseason, Gray has made six starts and posted a 1-3 record with a 3.26 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings pitched.In 2023, Gray finished second in the American League Cy Young Award race after making 32 starts with the Twins and posting an 8-8 record with a 2.79 ERA and 183 strikeouts.
BOSTON —
The Boston Red Sox have acquired veteran starting pitcher Sonny Gray in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals, the team confirmed Tuesday afternoon.
The Red Sox also received cash considerations from the Cardinals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts, left-handed pitcher Brandon Clarke and a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Gray, 36, is entering his 14th major league season. The right-hander started 32 games for the Cardinals in 2025, going 14-8 with a 4.28 earned run average and 201 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings pitched.
Fitts, 25, started 10 games for Boston in 2025, going 2-4 with a 5.00 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched.
Clarke, 22, was the No. 5 prospect in the Red Sox’s minor league system, according to MLB Pipeline. Boston drafted Clarke in the fifth round in 2024 and this year, he posted a 0.93 ERA with 17 strikeouts in three starts with Class-A Salem. But in 11 starts with High-A Greenville, Clarke went 0-3 with a 5.08 ERA and 43 strikeouts.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post and MLB Network, who was the first to report the trade, said Gray waived his no-trade clause and agreed to be sent to Boston, as did ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Passan also reported the Cardinals are sending $20 million to the Red Sox to cover Gray’s salary.
According to Spotrac, Gray is in the final year of a three-year, $75 million he signed with the Cardinals in November 2023. Gray has a $35 million salary for 2026 and his contract includes a $30 million mutual option for 2027 with a $5 million buyout.
Gray, a three-time All-Star, has played for the Oakland Athletics (2013-17), New York Yankees (2017-18), Cincinnati Reds (2019-21), Minnesota Twins (2022-23) and St. Louis (2024-25).
He has a career regular-season record of 125-102 with a 3.58 ERA and 1,925 strikeouts. In the postseason, Gray has made six starts and posted a 1-3 record with a 3.26 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings pitched.
In 2023, Gray finished second in the American League Cy Young Award race after making 32 starts with the Twins and posting an 8-8 record with a 2.79 ERA and 183 strikeouts.