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.

                                                                             OUT

                                                                          IN

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.