MLB Expert Gives Red Sox High Marks Following Sonny Gray Trade

The Boston Red Sox swung their first big trade of the MLB offseason on Tuesday, acquiring three-time All-Star starting pitcher Sonny Gray in a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Red Sox also received $20 million in cash in the trade, which sent right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts and left-handed minor league pitching prospect Brandon Clarke to the Cardinals.

ESPN MLB expert David Schoenfield graded both sides of the move on Tuesday afternoon, giving Boston a B+ and St. Louis a C.

“The Red Sox had three-fifths of an outstanding rotation in 2025, with Garrett Crochet leading the way and Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito producing solid campaigns as the second and third starters. That was enough to get the Red Sox back into the postseason for the first time since 2021, but after Giolito declined his part of a $19 million mutual option, the Red Sox were looking for a veteran starter to replace him,” Schoenfield wrote. “They landed on Gray, who is 36 years old but is coming off a second straight 200-strikeout season while also leading National League starters in strikeout-to-walk ratio.”

Barring a free agent signing or another trade which targets the front of the starting rotation, Gray is slated to be the No. 2 starter in 2026, behind AL Cy Young runner-up Garrett Crochet.

Schoenfield opined that the trade filled a big need for Boston.

“Overall, Gray plugs a big hole without the Red Sox paying out a long-term contract — and the Red Sox didn’t give up anybody who projected to be an impact player for them in 2026 (such as starters Payton Tolle and Connelly Early, who debuted this past season and could be in the 2026 rotation),” he said.

The Red Sox had a big offseason heading into 2025, which helped them get back to the playoffs for the first time in four years.

Now, as they look to build off last season’s postseason appearance, Boston kicked off what could be another busy winter with a bang.