Overview
- Boston sent right-hander Richard Fitts and left-handed prospect Brandon Clarke to St. Louis, and Gray waived his full no-trade clause to approve the move.
- Gray’s deal was reworked to a $31 million salary for 2026 with a 2027 mutual option carrying a $10 million buyout, with the Cardinals covering about $20 million.
- The addition targets a top-of-rotation need behind ace Garrett Crochet, with Craig Breslow pointing to Gray’s frontline résumé and swing-and-miss secondaries.
- Gray finished 2025 at 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 180.2 innings, with underlying indicators viewed as stronger than his ERA.
- St. Louis characterized the move as part of a rebuild under new leadership, and analysts see the trade shaping a busy starter market as Boston continues to seek more pitching and a power bat, including a possible Bregman reunion.