In the first major move of his tenure as St. Louis Cardinals President of Baseball Operations, Chaim Bloom traded away resident ace and veteran starting pitcher Sonny Gray to the Boston Red Sox. In return, the Red Sox sent pitching prospect Brandon Clarke, who became St. Louis's No. 7 prospect, and starting pitcher Richard Fitts. The Cardinals also sent $20 million to Boston to help offset some of Gray's contract for 2026.
Gray was a vital contributor to the Cardinals' rotation for the last two years, and this trade now creates a large gap at the top of the club's 2026 rotation.