After what was arguably his best season of his career, Sonny Gray left room for speculation about his potential retirement. The Boston Red Sox's 2026 ace said told The Boston Globe that he would retire "in a heartbeat" if his family wanted him to (subscription required).
It's hard to blame him for wanting to go out on a high note following his 2.72 ERA, 18-win season. But that's not baseball's biggest prize, which Gray still has it in his sights.
“My family and I have talked about it and it’s an easy decision,” Gray said in a text to Alex Speier of the Globe (subscription required). “I still want to win a World Series, whether that is [with] Boston or with whoever wants me.”
Boston's inclusion in Gray's statement has turned some heads. His 2026 stint with the Red Sox ended on a bit of a sour note after manager Chad Tracy removed Gray from Wild Card Game 2 after only 4.2 innings. Gray was pitching well at the time and the Sox went on to lose the game. The veteran's postgame comments didn't suggest he'd be willing to return to Boston in the event that he wanted to keep playing.
Sonny Gray opens door for reunion with Red Sox in new retirement comments
But he opened the door for a reunion and the Red Sox should consider it. Gray was Boston's most consistent pitcher in 2026 and he took on the stopper role in Garrett Crochet's stead. Gray is expected to finish in the top five of the American League Cy Young Award conversation with the fifth-best ERA in the AL, the most wins in the league and a 1.15 WHIP over 169 innings pitched. A year-over-year decline in his strikeout rate (26.7 in 2025 to 21.8 in 2026) didn't stop Gray from limiting runs with the best of them.
The Red Sox will have no elite right handed pitching next season unless they reunite with Gray, sign or trade for someone else. Tanner Houck made one start for Boston in September following a yearlong UCL surgery recovery. Kutter Crawford is also expected back after two entire seasons on the shelf with various injuries. But neither pitcher has proven, long-term, front-of-the-rotatation potential, which the Red Sox will need from their expected lone righty starter. If the Sox reunite with Gray, he may be able to teach them in a way none of their other starters can.
Boston may also be able to reunite with Gray on a short-term basis. His age, 37 in November, and the fact that he's already considered retirement could signal that he sees himself playing for just a few more years. A two-year contract would keep him in Boston in a key part of its competitive window while Ceddanne Rafaela, Garrett Crochet, Roman Anthony and more are signed long-term.
Signing anyone at Gray's age is risky given the heightened risk of injury or regression, but he's showed no signs of slowing down on the mound. He's given the Red Sox plenty of reasons to pursue a reunion with him, but doing so at a reasonable price will be key.
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