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The Boston Red Sox are at risk of losing Sonny Gray in free agency this offseason. Gray delivered a stellar 2026 season in his only year with Boston, but he is now available on the open market, and the Red Sox have a deep pitching staff that may not require a major acquisition.
Most speculation surrounding Gray has pointed toward a departure, with the Atlanta Braves frequently mentioned as a possible destination. If Gray were to sign with Atlanta, the impact on Boston would be minimal, as the Braves play in the National League and do not pose a regular-season threat to the Red Sox.
However, The Athletic's Mitch Bannon identified a team that would genuinely challenge Boston and represent perhaps the worst-case scenario: the Toronto Blue Jays.
Bad News for Boston
"The Jays main priority remains offence, but any starting-pitching addition is expected to be more than just a back-of-rotation innings eater," Bannon wrote. "If they dont land [Tarik Skubal], Freddy Peralta seems like a classic Jays rotation addition. He has a deceptive fastball and doesnt miss starts, and his stuff plays up in domed stadiums. The Jays, for all those reasons, are interested to some degree, but it doesnt sound like hes as high on their priority list as others. That mainly leaves Trevor Rogers and Sonny Gray."
Gray was outstanding for Boston and became a favorite among the fanbase. Watching him leave would be difficult for supporters, but seeing him join a division rival and fill one of the biggest needs for one of Boston's chief competitors would be especially painful.
In 2026, the Blue Jays finished 79-83, largely because their rotation was decimated by injuries all season. In 2025, Toronto came within a few outs of defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series but ultimately fell short. Adding Gray to the rotation would not only force the Red Sox to face him regularly but also make Toronto an even greater threat in the AL East.
For Red Sox fans, rooting against this scenario is an absolute must.