Overview
- Boston receives Sonny Gray and cash considerations, while St. Louis gets left-hander Brandon Clarke and right-hander Richard Fitts.
- Multiple outlets report the Cardinals are sending about $20 million, leaving Boston with an effective 2026 commitment near $21 million.
- Gray’s contract is being reworked to $31 million for 2026 with a mutual option structure that includes a $10 million buyout for 2027.
- The 36-year-old three-time All-Star went 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA and 201 strikeouts over 32 starts in 2025 and was the 2023 AL Cy Young runner-up.
- Gray is expected to slot behind Garrett Crochet in the Red Sox rotation as the Cardinals signal a youth-focused, payroll-shedding reset under new leadership.