The Boston Red Sox are adding a veteran arm to the rotation.

News reports from Jon Heyman and Jeff Passan have the Red Sox acquiring right-hander Sonny Gray and $20 million from the Cardinals in exchange for prospect LHP Brandon Clarke and reliever RHP Richard Fitts. At the time of the trade, Clarke was the Red Sox’s #5-ranked prospect. Gray waived his full no-trade clause to accept the deal, and per Ken Rosenthal, his deal is being reworked, now worth $31 million and a buyout at $10 million (essentially earning $1 million more than his previous deal of $35 million with a $5 million buyout).

Across 13 seasons in the big leagues, Gray owns a 3.58 ERA and a 3.51 FIP through 1918 innings of work. Spending his early years in Oakland, he has also pitched for the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, and, most recently, the Cardinals.

A three-time All-Star and AL Cy Young runner-up (2023), Gray made 32 starts last year for the Cards, posting a 4.28 ERA and a 1.234 WHIP across 180 2/3 innings. He finished the campaign with a 10 K/9, 1.9 BB/9, and a 3.39 FIP while also producing a 97th percentile breaking ball value (+14), which was led by his sweeper and curveball. Since making his debut in 2013, he ranks sixth amongst innings pitched and eighth amongst pitchers in fWAR (38.0).

Heading to St. Louis are Clarke and Fitts, who will bring some youth to the Cardinals organization, which appears to be looking to shed some payroll and perhaps gear towards a potential rebuild if they continue to trade other veteran assets.

Clarke is a former fifth-round pick of the Red Sox in 2024 and advanced to High-A Greenville this season, his first pro campaign. Between both levels, he made 14 starts and posted a 4.03 ERA, 1.158 WHIP and 60 strikeouts across 38 innings. The left-hander is not expected to be big league ready for a few more seasons.

Also heading to the NL Central is right-hander Richard Fitts.

The 25-year-old made his big league debut for Boston in 2024, making four starts en route to a 1.74 ERA across 20 2/3 innings pitched. He made just 10 starts and one relief appearance for the Red Sox in 2025 while dealing with various injuries and floating between the Majors and minor leagues. Through 45 innings, he allowed 25 earned runs and amassed a 5.00 ERA and a 5.80 FIP with an 8.0 K/9.

The Red Sox are acquiring a veteran starter for one year, which helps replace the holes left by Lucas Giolito and Dustin May this free agent period. For the Cardinals, Gray is just one veteran they have moved so far this winter, with the likes of second baseman Brendan Donovan and third baseman Nolan Arenado potentially on the move this offseason.