Cardinals deal Sonny Gray to Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox added 36-year-old right-hander Sonny Gray to their rotation on Tuesday, filling one of their biggest needs by acquiring the three-time All-Star from the St. Louis Cardinals with more than two months left in the offseason.

The Cardinals will eat $20 million of Gray’s salary and receive righty Richard Fitts and a prospect in the deal. Gray gives Boston a dependable option who could take some of the pressure off the rest of the rotation behind ace Garrett Crochet.

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 NL. 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, Gray is 125-102 with a 3.58 ERA.

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.

Gray, who waived his no-trade clause, 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 a $31 million salary for next year and a $30 million mutual option for 2027 with a $10 million buyout.



(AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, file)