Red Sox Acquire Starting Pitcher Sonny Gray in Trade With Cardinals

Boston gains a veteran pitcher in their starting rotation for the 2026 season.

Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray was traded to the Red Sox. | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

The Cardinals are trading right-handed starting pitcher Sonny Gray to the Red Sox after he waived his no-trade clause to leave St. Louis, New York Post’s Jon Heyman first reported on Tuesday.

In return, the Cardinals are receiving left-handed pitcher Brandon Clarke and right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts from the Red Sox. Boston also received cash along with Gray.

The three-time All-Star will leave the Cardinals after two seasons there. Now Boston gets a veteran pitcher added to its rotation as pitching was one of the most, if not the most, important positions the team was aiming for this offseason.

Gray went 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA last season with Cardinals. He also had 201 strikeouts. Gray has one year left on a three-year, $75 million deal including a team option for 2027.

Source confirms: Sonny Gray traded from Cardinals to Red Sox. Contract being reworked to one-year plus mutual option. 2026 salary will be $31M, mutual option buyout of $10M. Gray essentially getting $41M for one year.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 25, 2025

The 36-year-old pitcher began his MLB career in 2013 with the Athletics, and has since played for the Yankees, Reds and Twins. The Red Sox will be his sixth club to play for.

The Red Sox were looking for another starting pitcher to add to their rotation alongside Garrett Crochet, who was the MLB’s strikeout leader this past season. Brayan Bello will also return to the starting rotation next season.

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