The front offices of Boston and St. Louis have been on the phone with each other (or texting back and forth) all offseason, culminating in two big trades so far. 

Around Thanksgiving, the teams agreed to swap RHP Sonny Gray (36) along with $20 million for RHP Richard Fitts (26) and LHP Brandon Clarke (22, A+). 

Gray should play as a known quantity, and it sounds like he’s eager to pitch in the AL East again. “It’s easy to go to a place where it’s easy to hate the Yankees,” he said at this introductory press conference, instantly endearing himself to a new fanbase. He also restructured his contract to turn a guaranteed year into a mutual option that Boston can refuse for a $10 million payout. With the Cardinals covering $20 million, Gray will cost $11 million for the Red Sox in 2026. If he’s good for them, Boston can bring him back next year for $30 million at a $25 million luxury tax hit.