The Boston Red Sox sit with the second-worst record in the American League, and barring a massive turnaround, they’re headed toward seller status at the trade deadline.
That could put some veteran pieces in play, including three-time All-Star Sonny Gray. According to Tim Healy of the Boston Globe, the right-hander would be open to waiving his no-trade clause if the Red Sox decide to move him.
“If someone came to me from the Red Sox and made a decision that that’s the direction that this team was going to go, I would be open for a conversation,” Gray told Healy.
It’s a position nobody saw coming back in November when Boston acquired Gray from St. Louis in exchange for pitchers Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke. The Cardinals were rebuilding, looking to boost their farm system and trim payroll. The Red Sox were the win-now club building out their rotation.
Months later, it’s the Cardinals who are in contention while Boston weighs a possible reset.
The 36-year-old Gray has arguably been Boston’s best starter this season, posting a 3.12 ERA in 69.1 innings. That performance makes him an attractive rental option for contending clubs looking to bolster their rotation for a playoff push.
Gray becomes a free agent at season’s end, which means any acquiring team gets him for just a few months. But for clubs in the hunt, that short-term commitment might be exactly what they’re looking for.
The AL East certainly isn’t providing much competition for postseason spots from Boston’s end. What seemed like a competitive division race has turned into the Red Sox evaluating whether to hold or fold on their veteran assets.
Teams needing pitching reinforcements before the final stretch of the regular season will likely circle Gray’s name as the deadline approaches. His willingness to waive the no-trade clause removes a potential obstacle, making any deal that much easier to complete.
For Boston, it’s a question of whether they can turn things around quickly enough to justify keeping Gray, or if it makes more sense to recoup assets for a pitcher who won’t be around next year anyway.
