11/25/25 02:11:00
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11/25 12:33 CST Red Sox acquire right-hander Sonny Gray from the Cardinals
Red Sox acquire right-hander Sonny Gray from the Cardinals
By JIMMY GOLEN
AP Sports Writer
BOSTON (AP) --- 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."
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.
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AP Sports Writer David Skretta in Kansas City, Missouri, contributed to this
report.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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