BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – The St. Louis Cardinals traded All-Star right-hander Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. The Cardinals acquired right-hander Richard Fitts, minor league left-hander Brandon Clarke and a player to be named later or cash considerations to complete the deal.
Clarke was the consensus fifth-ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization.
Gray, 36, agreed to waive his no-trade clause to accommodate the transaction. He finished 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA and one shutout in 32 starts for the Cardinals in 2025. He struck out 201 batters and walked only 38 in 180 2/3 innings. The 13-year veteran is 125-102 with a 3.58 ERA in 339 games (330 starts) with the then-Oakland Athletics (2013-17), New York Yankees (2017-18), Cincinnati Reds (2019-21), Minnesota Twins (2022-23) and Cardinals.
Gray made the American League All-Star team in 2015 and 2023 and the National League All-Star squad in 2019. He finished second in the AL Cy Young voting in 2023 and third in 2015 and signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the Cardinals after the 2023 season and is due to earn $35 million in 2026. The contract includes a $30 million mutual option and a $5 million buyout in 2027, per ESPN.
ESPN reported that the Cardinals are sending $20 million to the Red Sox to put toward Gray’s 2026 salary.
Fitts, who turns 26 next month, posted a 2-5 record with a 3.97 ERA in 15 appearances (14 starts) with Boston over the past two seasons. He entered the 2025 season ranked as the team’s 12th-best prospect by Baseball America.
Clarke, 22, struck out 60 batters over 38 innings spread over 14 starts this past season with High-A Greenville and Single-A Salem.
“We are pleased to add these two talented young pitchers to our organization,” said Chaim Bloom, Cardinals president of baseball operations.
“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. Both have the potential to be part of our growing core for a long time, and we are happy to welcome them to the Cardinals.”
The Red Sox Depth Chart for starting pitchers now improves and is currently in this state:
- Garrett Crochet
- Sonny Gray
- Brayan Bello
- Connelly Early
- ? – Kutter Crawford/Hunter Dobbins/Tanner Houck/Patrick Sandoval
–Field Level Media