The Boston Crimson Sox’s rotation is beginning to come collectively.
Lengthy looking for a No. 2 starter, the Crimson Sox acquired right-hander Sonny Grey on Tuesday in a commerce with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Boston despatched right-hander Richard Fitts and left-handed pitching prospect Brandon Clarke to St. Louis for the 36-year-old Grey, who went 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA over 32 begins final season.
Grey now slots behind ace Garrett Crochet within the Crimson Sox’s rotation as they try and construct on final season’s Wild-Card berth.
Tuesday’s deal marks a return to the American League East for Grey, who pitched for the Yankees from 2017-18. Grey famously didn’t pan out for the Yankees, going 15-16 with a 4.51 ERA over these two seasons.
However he’s largely been a frontline starter since, together with in 2023, when he completed second in AL Cy Younger Award voting with the Minnesota Twins.
Though the 4.28 ERA was Grey’s highest since he left the Yankees, the three-time All-Star exceeded 200 strikeouts for the third time in his profession.
Boston was linked to Twins ace Joe Ryan earlier than final summer time’s commerce deadline, however a deal by no means got here to fruition.
The Crimson Sox’s lack of reliable beginning pitching behind Crochet proved expensive of their season-ending loss to the Yankees within the best-of-three Wild Card spherical of the postseason.
“I don’t think we’re going to spend a ton of time trying to add a No. 4 or a No. 5 starter,” Crimson Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow mentioned this month. “If we’re going to make a starting pitching addition, I think it should be somebody who can pitch at the front of a rotation and start a playoff game for us.”
Fitts, 25, pitched to a 5.00 ERA over 11 appearances (10 begins) within the majors final season. He was initially drafted by the Yankees, who despatched him to Boston of their 2023 commerce for outfielder Alex Verdugo.
Clarke, 22, was the Crimson Sox’s No. 5 pitching prospect, in response to MLB Pipeline, however has not pitched past Excessive-A.
The Crimson Sox can even ship a participant to be named later or money consideration to St. Louis, whereas the Cardinals despatched again some cash to assist cowl Grey’s contract. Grey is due a base wage of $31 million in 2026 and has a mutual choice for 2027.
Tuesday’s commerce marked the primary domino to fall in what’s anticipated to be a busy offseason for Boston.
Third baseman Alex Bregman opted out of his contract, however a reunion would make sense for either side. The Crimson Sox have additionally been linked to longtime Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who can be a free agent.
