Sonny Gray's Red Sox discontent opens a clear path to SF Giants in free agency

The Boston Red Sox were eliminated from the playoffs on Wednesday night after getting absolutely destroyed by the New York Yankees in the Wild Card series. Red Sox players were not happy afterwards including starting pitcher Sonny Gray which could open a path for him to join the Giants in free agency.

Gray was pulled from the game in the fifth inning even though he had only thrown 70 pitches and had only allowed one run up to that point. Boston manager Chad Tracy opted for ex-Giant Erik Miller, who was dealt to Boston at the trade deadline, and he gave up an RBI single to Cody Bellinger.

After the game, Gray said the following when asked about his manager’s decision to remove him: “I think I'm the best pitcher in the American League going through the order a third time. I think that's a fact. I would have liked to have been trusted in that moment."

Later, when asked about whether he wants to return to the Red Sox next year, he replied, “I don’t know.”

Gray has a mutual option in his contract with the Red Sox meaning they can exercise their club option on him and then he gets to decide whether he wants to exercise his player option. Boston could potentially choose to buy out the rest of his deal which would make Gray a free agent or he could opt out which would also make him a free agent.

Maybe it was just the heat of the moment after a tough loss in which he got pulled early, but it sure doesn’t sound like Gray is all that enthused about a reunion with Boston. If he hits the free agent market then the Giants could definitely be a suitor as they look to fill out the rest of the rotation which as of right now only has Logan Webb, Landen Roupp, and potentially Adrian Houser in it.

Giants could use an experienced arm like Sonny Gray in rotation

Gray had an excellent year in 2026. He had an 18-5 record with a 2.72 ERA in 29 starts. He pitched 169 innings and had 149 strikeouts compared to 46 walks. His 3.72 FIP suggests he got a little lucky, but he still had a really good year.

The soon-to-be 37-year-old has not ruled out retirement so there’s a chance he just decides to call it quits, but assuming he wants to pitch another year the Giants wouldn’t mind a pitcher as old as him because they could probably get him on a more affordable one or two-year contract.

Gray used to pitch for the Oakland Athletics before so he knows what it’s like to pitch in the Bay Area. The Tennessee native has stayed in the Midwest or on the East Coast typically when choosing teams in free agency so maybe he’s not a fan of the West Coast, but if he wants to end his big league career in roughly the same place he started it then San Francisco seems like a logical destination.

We’ll have to see if it happens, but the fact that things ended so poorly with the Red Sox may make him want a change of scenery this offseason so don’t be surprised if he opts out of his deal and hits the market. 

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