St. Louis Cardinals trade Sonny Gray

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded starting pitcher Sonny Gray, and $20 million to the Boston Red Sox for starting pitcher Richard Fitts starting pitcher Brandon Clarke, and a player to be named later or cash considerations. Gray, 36, was 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA, 32 games, 32 starts, 180.2 innings, 201 strikeouts, 38 walks, and a whip of 1.23 in 2025.

Gray has been an All-Star 3 times: (2015, 2019. and 2023). 

Gray had his best season in 2014, with the Oakland Athletics. That season, Gray was 14-10 with a 3.08 ERA, 33 games, 33 starts, 2 complete games, 2 shutouts, 219 innings, 183 strikeouts, 74 walks, and a whip of 1.85. The wins, games, starts, shutouts, and innings were all career highs for Gray. 

In 2015, Gray had a career high (3) complete games. 

Gray had a career high (205) strikeouts in 2019, with the Cincinnati Reds. 

In 2023, with the Minnesota Twins, Gray was the AL Cy Young runner-up. 

Overall, Gray has played 13 MLB seasons. Gray is 125-102 with a 3.58 ERA, 339 games, 330 starts, 7 complete games, 5 shutouts, 1,918 innings, 1,925 strikeouts, 621 walks, and a whip of 1.20.

Fitts, 25, was 2-4 with a 5.00 ERA, 11 games, 10 starts, 45 innings, 40 strikeouts, 16 walks, and a whip of 1.31 in 2025. The wins, games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Fitts. 

In the minors, Fitts was 2-1 with a 3.60 ERA, 7 games, 7 starts, 30 innings, 27 strikeouts, 11 walks, and a whip of 1.37 combined between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worchester in 2025.

Fitts had his best season in 2023, with Double-A Somerset (affiliate of the New York Yankees). That season, Fitts was 11-5 with a 3.48 ERA, 27 games, 27 starts, 152.2 innings, 163 strikeouts, 43 walks, and a whip of 1.14. The wins, games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Fitts.

Overall, in the minors, Fitts has played 4 seasons. Fitts is 29-19 with a 3.74 ERA, 80 games, 79 starts, 411.1 innings, 432 strikeouts, 111 walks, and a whip of 1.15.

In the MLB, Fitts has played 2 seasons. Fitts is 2-5 with a 3.97 ERA, 15 games, 14 starts, 65.2 innings, 49 strikeouts, 23 walks, and a whip of 1.29.

Clarke, 22, was 0-3 with a 4.03 ERA, 14 games, 14 starts, 38 innings, 60 strikeouts, 27 walks, and a whip of 1.16 combined between Single-A Salem and High-A Greenville in 2025. 

It was Clarke's 1st minor league season. Clarke ranked as the Red Sox 5th best prospect. With the Cardinals, Clarke will be their no.7th best prospect. 

Clarke can also reach 100 mph on the radar gun. 

On paper the Cardinals upgraded their future pretty well with this trade. The Cardinals will now need to develop both Clarke and Fitts. Fitts even could earn a starting rotation job in 2026. Does Nolan Arenado get traded next? Chaim Bloom isn't scared to make trades.