Red Sox Get Ideal Sonny Gray Return News After Latest Report of Playing in 2027 originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Sonny Gray made some interesting comments after the Boston Red Sox decided to pull him against the New York Yankees, comments that suggested he wasn't too happy with the organization.
Gray hasn't been outspoken about certain things in the past, but that's changed a good bit over the past couple of seasons.
As for retirement, the latest reports indicate he has no plans to retire and wants to return to the bump in 2027.
With the Red Sox and Gray having a mutual option, and if either declines it, the two would have to figure something out in free agency.
They could part ways, but the latest report suggests Boston might be in the mix more than some anticipated after his comments following the Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees.
“He should be in high demand, as effective starting pitchers always are. His market will be interesting to watch due to his personal preferences. As mentioned, he has flirted with retirement. He also seems to have a preference for East Coast clubs so that he can be near to his Nashville home.
“The last time he was on the open market, he signed with St. Louis, one of the MLB cities closest to his home. He did approve a trade to move further away, so it’s not as though he has set strict limits, but it’s hard to say how willing he is to go to the West Coast,” Darragh McDonald wrote.
The interesting part here is Gray wanting to stay on the East Coast. As we look at other East Coast teams, multiple suitors could make sense for him.
Many teams in baseball would be interested in adding a guy coming off arguably his best season yet at 36, and likely a bit cheaper than he usually would be. Gray posted a 2.72 ERA and struck out 149 hitters last season, throwing 169.0 innings.
It'll be interesting to see how those comments reflect on him in free agency, though, since the Red Sox will have to consider them.