Sox Trade Fitts, Clarke for Sonny Gray (11/25/25)

The Boston Red Sox made a shocking trade today, sending 2024 draft prospect Brandon Clarke and "Big" Dick Fitts to the St. Louis Cardinals for aging innings eating starting pitching Sonny Gray. The Cards also threw in 20 million to pay for half of Gray's 41 million dollar contract.

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So who did the Sox give up? Clarke was a flamethrower coming out of Junior College and allowed 1 run in 9 innings of Salem before disappointing in 11 starts for Greenville. Still, a 22 year old that can throw 100 is nothing to sneeze at. "Big" Dick Fitts was the centerpiece of the Alex Verdugo trade after the 2023 season and ended the 2024 season with promise, posting a 1.74 ERA in 4 starts. In 2025, Fitts battled injuries and ineffectiveness to post a 2-4 record with a 5.00 ERA in 10 starts. 

Meanwhile Sonny Gray was the unlikely ace of the 2013 Oakland A's playoff run after being drafted in 2011. Famously traded to the New York Yankees at the 2016 trade deadline, Gray flopped like a dead deer going 15-16 in 2 years in the Bronx. He did rebound in Cincinnati in 2019 going 11-8 with a 2.87 ERA and was 13-9 with a 3.84 ERA in 2024 for the St. Louis Cardinals. Last year he was perfectly mediocre, going 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA.

As with anything there's two way to look at this. The pessimist approach is the Sox just gave up two pitching prospects for an aging number 4 starter that's going to cost the Sox 20 million dollars in 2026. That's not the kind of guy you trade two prospects for. The Sox felt Lucas Giolito's arm couldn't hold up after he pretty much evaporated at the end of September so they're essentially replacing Gio with Gray. If that's Sox GM Craig Breslow's answer to number two, they're in trouble.

The glass half full is Gray has been durable for 24 starts or more every year of his career with the exception of 2016 in Oakland (not counting the shortened Covid season). If he's supposed to be their number 4 behind Garrett Crochet, the REAL number 2 and Brayan Bello, at least they'll get their innings eater. 

Bottom line is the Sox paid 20 million for Sonny Gray a week after penny pinching their relief pitchers last week. They could have had just rolled the dice on Kutter Crawford or Patrick Sandoval but Gray is a proven starter. If this is their Nick Pivetta next season, they BETTER get a number two. The Detroit Tigers say Tarik Skubal is available so Breslow should be doing his best to get him.

Red Sox Make Roster Moves (11/18/25)

Just when you thought the off-season was going to be actually good for the Boston Red Sox after making the playoffs for the first time in four seasons, the front office reminded the fans that its all about money. The Sox made a bevy of roster moves not to improve the team, but to clear payroll. Let's get to the roster moves.

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First and foremost, the Sox traded lefty Brennan Bernardino to the Colorado Rockies for 26 year old Albuquerque Isotopes centerfielder Braiden Ward. Ward was taken in the 16th round four slots after the Sox chose BJ Vela in the 2021 draft. Ward played only 97 games between AA and AAA last year although he did hit a combined .290. He's a speedster that swiped 57 bags but more importantly to John Henry, he's cheap. Bernardino was due to make 775K this coming season and Ward being a 16th round pick, only signed for 125K. The Sox shed 650k by trading one of their most dependable relievers for a triple A outfielder with no power.

But wait there's more! Another of the 2021 draft class bites the dust for the Boston Red Sox as they have traded Luis Guerrero to the Tampa Bay Rays for 29 year old utility infielder Tristan Gray. To make room for Gray on the 40 man roster, the Sox designated Nathaniel Lowe for assignment. Lowe was due 12 million this season and Guerrero was due 760K. Now Gray will make 820K this season but the real win for Henry was dumping Lowe's contract. So far that's 12.59 million saved.

Next up, the Red Sox traded relief pitcher Chris Murphy to the Chicago White Sox for 21 year old Single A catcher Ronny Hernandez. Hernandez hit just .251 with 4 home runs for the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. Murphy was due 820K this coming season while Hernandez was a Dominican teenage signing back in 2022. Just for arguments sake lets say he makes 125K. That's another 700K saved bringing us to 13.29 million.

In a minor league deal, the Sox traded right handed pitching prospect Alex Hoppe to the Seattle Mariners for their 14th round pick in last year's draft, 22 year old Luke Heyman. Heyman didn't even play in rookie ball last year but supposedly has a good power bat. Hoppe was due to make 820K this season while Heyman signed for 230K. That's another 590K saved bringing us to 13.88 million.

Also, relief pitcher Josh Winckowski was designated for assignment to make room for three more guys. Winckowski was making 760K as well. so that brings it to 14.64 total saved.

Added to the 40 man roster was 2020 5th round pick left handed pitcher Shane Drohan. 2021 19th round pick right handed pitcher Tyler Uberstine and 24 year old right handed pitcher David Sandlin. None of them are projected to make the team out of spring training, this was mostly to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft coming up in December.

All in all this was a salary dump to clear out Bernardino, Guerrero, Murphy, Lowe and Winckowski. Gray is a utility infielder while Hernandez, Ward and Heyman are prospects. The glass half empty situation is this is Henry penny pinching to save money. Getting rid of proven players, especially Bernardino, just to save money is a sign of a bad franchise. The half full way to look at it is the Sox cleared out 14 million to use on other players. Bottom line is with Detroit dangling Tarik Skubal as trade bait, Pete Alonso, Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez as free agents, the Sox better do something. They were a rash of injuries and a true second ace away from possibly winning the pennant despite everything that happened last year. The time to strike is NOW.