Sonny Gray was one of the top pitchers to be traded during the 2026 MLB offseason as he went from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Boston Red Sox.
Going from the NL Central to the AL East will require an adjustment and will also impact Gray’s fantasy upside for the 2026 campaign, but the veteran hurler should be a mainstay near the top of Boston’s rotation, presumably as high as the No. 2 behind Garrett Crochet.
Gray posted a 4.28 ERA, 3.39 FIP, 1.23 WHIP, and 201:38 K:BB over 180.2 innings for St. Louis in 2025. It was the second straight season in which he reached the mark of 200 strikeouts, but it represented a step in the wrong direction in terms of ERA, as the 4.28 mark was his highest since the 2018 campaign with another AL East franchise, the New York Yankees.
Gray’s WHIP has remained largely the same, though, staying between 1.09 and 1.23 in each of his last six seasons. What will Gray bring to the table in his first year in Boston from a fantasy perspective?
Sonny Gray Fantasy Baseball: Strengths, Weaknesses, and 2026 Projection
There’s no question that Gray’s biggest strength as a pitcher is his ability to rack up strikeouts with ease. He finished the 2025 campaign ranking tied for 11th in the majors in Ks with 201, and he’s recorded at least 180 punchouts in three campaigns in a row.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to think he should approach those numbers once again in 2026. Wins and losses are a bit more volatile, but he should benefit from playing in front of a better defense in Boston compared to St. Louis.
Pitching in Fenway Park represents a downgrade for Gray, as that’s one of the most hitter-friendly parks in the majors, but it represents an upgrade for his win potential.
Even though his velocity has slipped over the last two years, Gray’s arsenal should allow him to thrive as long as he trusts his off-speed pitches. With excellent command (201:38 K:BB in 2025), Gray should have another strong season in 2026 after getting traded to a contender.
Although Gray averaged 91.7 mph with his fastball in 2025, he remains dependable for fantasy purposes. He should rack up more wins than in previous years and post good (not great) strikeout numbers while playing in front of better defense in 2026. Target him with confidence as a mid-round pick in most point-based formats.
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