The Boston Red Sox are unlikely to prioritize re-signing pitcher Sonny Gray after his dominant 2026 season, according to reporting from The Boston Globe.
Gray, who turns 37 on Saturday, officially became a free agent after declining his side of a $30 million mutual option for 2027 and accepting a $10 million buyout. He posted a 2.72 earned run average across 29 starts for Boston in the recently concluded season, one of the best of his 14-year career.
Despite his performance and a previous openness to returning to Boston, The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier suggested on NESN’s “310 to Left” podcast that the team’s interest in a reunion is expected to be “muted.” Speier anticipates the Red Sox will allocate resources elsewhere.
Gray had previously indicated he would be open to a Red Sox reunion but also left the door open for his departure this winter. "I still want to win a World Series, whether that is [with] Boston or with whoever wants me," Gray told Speier last month.
Gray's tenure with the Red Sox concluded with disappointment in the AL Wild Card Series against the Yankees. He was removed from Game 2 after 4 ⅔ innings, a decision that visibly displeased him. Following the game, he expressed frustration with the early exit, stating he felt strong and capable of pitching deeper into the game.
Gray is expected to be among the top starting pitchers available on the free-agent market this offseason, joining other notable arms like Tarik Skubal, Michael King, and Freddy Peralta.