The Red Sox and Sonny Gray could benefit from a change of scenery

Jun 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The Boston Red Sox season has been off the rails from the start, and it continues to get worse.

The Red Sox are 2-8 in their last 10 games and are on a four-game losing streak. Sitting at the bottom of the American League East standings (29-49), the Red Sox are trending toward being sellers at the trade deadline (Aug. 3), as they have some players who can help contending teams. 

The Boston Red Sox potentially could trade Sonny Gray to help rebuild the roster

The Red Sox acquired Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals in November of last year to help stabilize the starting rotation, and he has done well. In his first season with the Red Sox, Gray is 8-1 with a 3.12 ERA and a .248 batting average against in 13 starts.

But in the final year of his three-year ($75 million) contract -- there's a $30 million team option for 2027 ($5 million buyout), which will likely be declined as Gray is not a $30 million player -- the Red Sox could acquire a player or two to help better their roster. 

There is a catch: the 36-year-old has a full no-trade clause. 

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"Gray has been one of the few bright spots for the underachieving Red Sox, going 8-1 with a 3.03 ERA in his first 12 starts of the season. The 36-year-old right-hander has a full no-trade clause, but the opportunity to move to a contender could prompt Gray to approve a deal. Gray is in the final year of his three-year, $75 million deal, and while he has a $30 million club option for 2027, he can opt out and become a free agent if the option is exercised," wrote MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

Feinsand lists the Atlanta Braves, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs as potential suitors. The Braves and the Cubs would both make sense to acquire the three-time All-Star, as both teams have had injuries to their starting rotation. 

The Brewers could use another arm like Gray, but if they're going to spend the prospect capital in a trade to acquire an arm, they'll spend it on someone like the Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal. 

The Braves make more sense to acquire Gray than the Cubs, as the recent injury to Spencer Strider (right elbow inflammation) will require them to acquire another veteran arm. Competing with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the National League and MLB (48-27), the Braves (46-27) could benefit from shoring up the rotation if they play the Dodgers in the postseason. 

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