yardbarker
Sonny Gray delivered a standout first season with the Boston Red Sox, but it might be his last in a Boston uniform. According to Sean McAdam of MassLive.com, Gray is "expected" to depart via free agency, though McAdam did not definitively rule out a return.
Gray joined the Red Sox during the 2025-26 offseason as part of a series of roster upgrades. He stepped up as the staff ace while Garrett Crochet dealt with left shoulder inflammation and a strained lat muscle, limiting Crochet to most of the season on the sidelines. Gray responded with a 2.72 ERA and a 1.148 WHIP across 169 innings, leading the majors with 18 wins. He struck out 149 batters and issued 46 walks.
The relationship between Gray and the Red Sox may have soured during the postseason. Gray expressed dissatisfaction after being removed in the fifth inning of Game Two of the Wild Card round against the Yankees, stating he was not given a reason for the decision. The Yankees subsequently took the lead against reliever Erik Miller and completed a sweep.
Even if Gray departs, Boston's rotation appears well-positioned. Crochet is expected to be healthy, and young starters Peyton Tolle and Jake Bennett showed promise. Ranger Suarez projects as an excellent second starter. Still, teams can never have too much pitching, and if Crochet falters, the Red Sox might find they miss Gray more than anticipated.
Originally reported by yardbarker.