BLOCKBUSTER FROM BOSTON: Red Sox Land Right-Handed All-Star Sonny Gray in EXPENSIVE Trade.vc

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Red Sox have officially made their first “expensive” blockbuster move of the offseason, acquiring three-time All-Star right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for pitching prospects. This move immediately fulfills Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow’s stated goal of adding a reliable No. 2 starter to the rotation.

While the phrase “high-ranking MLB official and World Series champion” may have hinted at an active player like Max Fried, the acquired pitcher, Sonny Gray, is a three-time All-Star and a key veteran addition, and the trade itself was financially complicated.

The Expensive Deal: A $41 Million Commitment

The deal was expensive not necessarily in terms of prospects (the Red Sox sent right-hander Richard Fitts and prospect Brandon Clarke to St. Louis), but in the commitment of cash and contract renegotiation:

• The Player: Right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray, age 36.
• The Cost: Gray had a guaranteed $40 million remaining on his contract. The Red Sox absorbed the entire contract, which was renegotiated to guarantee him $41 million over the next two seasons ($31 million for 2026 and a $10 million buyout on a 2027 option).
• The Offset: The Cardinals helped reduce the immediate cash outlay for Boston by sending $20 million back to the Red Sox.

This move underscores the Red Sox’s willingness to spend big money to improve their pitching depth, placing Gray behind ace Garrett Crochet in the rotation. Gray is an innings eater, posting over 200 strikeouts in each of the last two seasons while maintaining a strong walk-rate, giving the Red Sox the veteran stability they desperately needed.

Focus Shifts to the Lineup

With the pitching staff stabilized (especially after losing Lucas Giolito to free agency), Breslow and the front office are now shifting their entire focus to the offensive side of the roster.

The next projected expensive move will be for a powerful right-handed bat. The Red Sox are heavily linked to both:

• Pete Alonso (1B/DH): The top priority to inject huge, right-handed power into the middle of the lineup.
• Alex Bregman (3B): The club’s primary goal remains re-signing Bregman, who opted out of his contract, to shore up the hot corner.