It appears the Red Sox and Sonny Gray are heading their separate ways.
The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier suggested earlier this week on NESN’s “310 to Left” podcast that the franchise is unlikely to prioritize re-signing Gray despite his dominant 2026 season.
“My guess is that the interest on the part of the Red Sox in reupping with Sonny Gray is going to be muted, at least in the short term, and that they’re likelier to try to use any resources that they have elsewhere,” Speier said.
The veteran right-hander officially became a free agent last week after declining his side of a $30 million mutual option for 2027, instead collecting a $10 million buyout.
Gray, who turns 37 on Saturday, is coming off one of the best seasons of his 14-year big league career, posting a 2.72 ERA across 29 starts for Boston.
The three-time All-Star was believed to be considering retirement before deciding to come back for the 2027 season.
Last month, Gray told Speier he would be open to a Red Sox reunion while leaving the door open to departing this winter.
“I still want to win a World Series, whether that is [with] Boston or with whoever wants me,” Gray said.
If that’s it for him in Beantown, Gray will be leaving on a sour note, having been pulled after 4 ⅔ innings in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Yankees, and later expressed his displeasure with the early hook.
“I’m the best pitcher in the American League going through the order for a third time. I think that’s a fact,” Gray said after the game. “I would’ve liked to live or die with me in that moment but that’s the competitor I am. Yeah, I think you can probably ask the guys and they felt the same way.
“I felt strong. I felt confident. I felt convicted … but what can you do, you know?”
Gray is expected to be one of the most coveted starting pitchers on the free-agent market, joining Tarik Skubal, Michael King and Freddy Peralta among the top available arms this offseason.