Red Sox Land Sonny Gray in $20M Salary Relief Trade as Cardinals Rebuild

The Boston Red Sox didn’t just add a pitcher this offseason—they added stability, experience, and a rare kind of quiet dominance. On November 25, 2025, at 6:47 a.m. Eastern Time, the Red Sox completed a stunning trade with the St. Louis Cardinals to acquire 36-year-old right-hander Sonny Gray, along with $20 million in cash to offset his salary. In return, Boston sent left-handed pitching prospect Brandon Clarke, right-hander Richard Fitts, and a player to be named later—or more cash. The deal, negotiated by Craig Breslow, Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer, and Chaim Bloom, Cardinals President of Baseball Operations, wasn’t just about talent exchange. It was a financial reset wrapped in baseball logic.

Why This Trade Made Sense for Boston

The Red Sox finished 2025 with an 89-73 record, their first playoff berth since 2021. But their rotation had a glaring hole: after ace Garrett Crochet, there was uncertainty. Enter Gray. In 2025, the veteran pitched 180.2 innings with a 4.28 ERA—but his FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) of 3.39 told a different story. He was getting unlucky. His walk rate? A career-low 5%. His strikeout-to-walk ratio? Fourth-best among all qualified starters. Baseball Prospectus ranked him the 11th most valuable pitcher in baseball last season. That’s not the kind of guy you pass up when you’re trying to go deep in October.

"I don’t know how much sense it makes in November to put a number on a guy," Breslow said. "But when you think about what Sonny has been in this league—it’s a guy who’s pitched at the front of rotations. Strikeout rates, walk rates, staying off barrels. He excels there."

Gray’s contract was restructured: his 2026 salary dropped from $35M to $31M, and the buyout on his 2027 mutual option jumped from $5M to $10M. That means, regardless of whether Boston picks up the option, Gray becomes a free agent after the 2026 season. For a team that’s already budgeting for future extensions on Crochet and other core players, this was a perfect short-term fix. No long-term anchor. Just 160+ innings of elite command and durability.

The Cardinals’ Calculated Reset

The Cardinals, who missed the playoffs in 2025 for the second time in three years, are clearly in rebuild mode. Sending $20 million to Boston isn’t generosity—it’s strategy. They shed nearly $65 million in future obligations tied to Gray’s original three-year, $75 million deal. That’s room to breathe, and potentially, room to move on from other high-salary veterans like Nolan Arenado.

In return, they got two arms with upside. Brandon Clarke, 22, was Boston’s No. 5 prospect. A 6-foot-4 lefty drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of Alabama, Clarke posted a 4.03 ERA in 14 starts across Single-A and High-A in his pro debut. His fastball sits in the low 90s, but his slider has sharp, late bite—enough to make scouts believe he could develop into a mid-rotation starter. The Cardinals didn’t just get a prospect. They got a project with ceiling.

Then there’s Richard Fitts, 25. He’s not a prospect anymore. He’s a proven MLB arm—though injury-plagued. Fitts made 14 starts over two seasons with Boston, posting a 3.97 ERA. But his 2025 season ended in August due to right arm neuritis, a nerve issue that’s raised concerns. Still, he’s got a clean delivery and decent command. For a Cardinals organization starved for depth, he’s a low-risk, high-reward gamble. A healthy Fitts could slot into a bullpen or swing role.

Gray’s Career: The Quiet Ace

It’s easy to overlook Gray because he doesn’t throw 100 mph or flash a 12-6 curveball. But he’s been one of baseball’s most consistent starters since 2013. Over 13 seasons, he’s thrown 1,918 innings with a 3.58 ERA and 1,925 strikeouts. He’s a three-time All-Star. In 2023, he finished second in AL Cy Young voting. And here’s the kicker: he’s struck out 200+ batters in each of the last two seasons. Only five pitchers in MLB have done that. One of them? Garrett Crochet.

Gray’s evolution is fascinating. Early in his career with Cincinnati, he walked too many hitters. Then came the Twins, where he learned to pitch smarter. Now, with the Cardinals and now the Red Sox, he’s refined his approach: low contact, high efficiency. He doesn’t need to overpower. He just needs to outthink.

What This Means for the AL East

The Red Sox aren’t done. But this trade signals intent. They’re not just trying to get to the playoffs—they’re trying to win there. Adding Gray means they can now trust their rotation: Crochet at the top, Gray as the steady second, and a mix of young arms—like Brayan Bello and Nick Pivetta—filling out the back end.

Meanwhile, the Yankees and Orioles are spending big. The Blue Jays are quietly building. Boston needed to respond. This trade doesn’t make them the favorites. But it makes them dangerous. And in October, danger often comes from veterans who know how to close the door.

What’s Next?

The player to be named later will be determined by January 15, 2026. Sources say it’s likely a low-level minor leaguer from the Cardinals’ system, possibly an infielder or another pitching prospect. Boston’s front office is also eyeing a veteran reliever before spring training, possibly to replace the departed Adam Ottavino.

As for Gray? He’s already been spotted at Fenway Park, walking the field with Breslow, asking about the bullpen’s tendencies. He’s not here to be a hero. He’s here to be the guy who eats innings and lets the offense win games.

Background: The Breslow-Bloom Connection

The trade’s structure owes much to the personal history between Breslow and Bloom. Bloom ran Boston’s baseball operations from 2019 to 2023. He was the architect of their last playoff run. Now, he’s on the other side—leading a Cardinals team trying to shed payroll and reset. Their familiarity made negotiations smoother. They didn’t need to explain themselves. They already knew what each other valued.

It’s rare in baseball for a GM to move from one team to another and then execute a major trade with his former employer. But this isn’t just a transaction. It’s a reflection of how modern baseball operates: relationships matter, and so does timing.