Red Sox boost rotation with veteran who has historically been tough on the Blue Jays

"Gray should fit in nicely into the Red Sox rotation behind Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello while also filling a valuable leadership role to promising rookie Connelly Early. It's a nice addition for the Red Sox, especially if Gray can recapture the form he had between 2019 and 2024. During those six seasons Gray was worth a combined 19.9 bWAR pitching in 152 games and striking out 935 batters in 836.2 innings pitched."

"What should be of particular concern for the Blue Jays is that Gray has largely been effective against Toronto throughout his career outside his lone, full season with the Yankees in 2018. During that season he pitched in five games, including four starts for the Bronx Bombers against the Blue Jays and would up with a 5.12 ERA, giving up 11 earned runs on 22 hits in 19.1 innings pitched. Outside of that, he's pitched a combined 61 innings in 10 games against Toronto and owns a 2.91 ERA."

"Sonny Gray is coming back to the American League East. Eight years after last pitching for the New York Yankees, Gray waived his no-trade clause, allowing the St. Louis Cardinals to trade him to the Boston Red Sox. The Cardinals received LHP Brandon Clarke, RHP Richard Fitts, and a PTBNL or cash."

Sonny Gray was traded to the Boston Red Sox after waiving his no-trade clause, with the St. Louis Cardinals receiving LHP Brandon Clarke, RHP Richard Fitts, and a PTBNL or cash. Gray projects as a veteran middle-rotation starter behind Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello and as a leadership presence for rookie Connelly Early. Gray produced 19.9 bWAR from 2019–2024 across 152 games, striking out 935 batters in 836.2 innings. He has been notably effective against the Toronto Blue Jays outside his 2018 Yankees stint, posting a 2.91 ERA in 61 innings across 10 games, though he has not faced them since 2023.

Read at Jays Journal