Once Derided as Difference-Makers, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras Have Flourished in Boston

When the Red Sox pulled off trades with the Cardinals for 36-year-old right-hander Sonny Gray and 34-year-old first baseman Willson Contreras, more than a few fans liked the direction the team was going. Instead of spending their money to keep Alex Bregman or signing Pete Alonso in free agency, the Red Sox instead opted for a couple of proven veterans who played previously in the National League with the Cardinals.

Quite frankly, where would the Red Sox be now without a revived Gray leading the pitching staff and Contreras playing an All-Star level first base and leading the offense? Likely not still riding the feel-good vibes of a 15-game winning streak.

Contreras, who made the AL All-Star team and reached the semifinals of the Home Run Derby with several 450-plus homers, leads the Red Sox in batting average (.293), on-base percentage (.389), slugging (.559), OPS (.948), homers (22) and RBI (66) in 94 games. He's also brought some much-needed fire and bravado to a Red Sox team that started the season slowly before using the 15-game winning streak to sling-shot themselves back into the playoff race.

As for Gray, he leads the Red Sox pitching staff in wins (12), starter ERA (2.48), innings pitched (101 2/3) and starts (18). Gray has struck out 90 hitters, while walking just 28.

So Red Sox fans, what do you think of Contreras and Gray now after watching them perform over the first 100 games of the season?