Evaluating the Sonny Gray Trade: Both Red Sox and Cardinals Earn an 'A'

The Red Sox and Cardinals agreed to a three-player trade on Tuesday that involves veteran starter Sonny Gray moving to Boston in exchange for right-hander Richard Fitts and lefty Brandon Clarke. St. Louis is also expected to send $20 million to the Red Sox to help offset Gray’s salary.

Trade Details

Red Sox receive: RHP Sonny Gray, $20 million
Cardinals receive: RHP Richard Fitts, LHP Brandon Clarke

Red Sox Grade: A

The Red Sox successfully leveraged their pitching depth to secure another quality starter while preserving flexibility for future moves. Gray’s track record of consistency makes him a valuable asset to the rotation.

Cardinals Grade: A

The Cardinals, under new leadership, are shaking up their roster. They acquired a reliable replacement for Gray in Fitts while also getting a promising prospect in Clarke, indicating a strategic enhancement of their player development pipeline.

Gray has a significant background with a career ERA+ of 117 and an impressive 3.10 strikeout-to-walk ratio, showcasing his effectiveness as a pitcher.