Boston Red Sox’ Sonny Gray Makes Decision on 2027 Season

In the waning weeks of the 2026 season, Boston Red Sox veteran starter Sonny Gray was open about considering retirement after his 14th big-league season. According to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, Gray has decided to return to the mound in 2027. “My family and I have talked about it, and it’s an easy decision. I still want to win a World Series, whether that is [with] Boston or with whoever wants me,” Gray said in a text to Speier. 

After being acquired in an offseason deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, in exchange for starter Richard Fitts and pitching prospects Brandon Clarke and Patrick Galle, Gray was a godsend for the Red Sox pitching staff in the absence of 2025 American League Cy Young runner-up Garrett Crochet. 

Gray was arguably the Red Sox' best starter in 2026. After entering the season with questions about how effective he could be late in his career, Gray has passed every test with flying colors. In 29 starts, Gray has posted a 2.72 ERA, the fifth-lowest mark in the American League and eighth-lowest in baseball. 

The 36-year-old got the start for Boston in Game 2 of the Wild Card series in New York, allowing two earned runs on six hits in 4.2 innings in the Red Sox season-ending loss. In the aftermath of the loss, Gray was incredibly vocal about getting lifted after only 70 pitches, saying, "I'm the best pitcher in the American League going through the order for a third time. I would've liked to live or die with me in that moment, but that's the competitor I am. You can probably ask the guys in here if they felt the same way. I would’ve liked to be trusted in that moment." When asked if Boston was a destination he'd like to return to, Gray simply answered: "I don't know." 

However, cooler heads have seemed to prevail with Gray being open to a return to Boston, as per his text to Speier. 

Despite announcing his intention to pitch again in 2027, both Gray and the Red Sox will have a decision to make in the coming weeks on his mutual option worth $30 million; however, you'd have to go back to 2014 to find the last time both sides of a mutual option were accepted. It's highly unlikely either side will accept their side of the option. 

The option includes a $10-million buyout, so Gray can decline it, collect $10 million, and seek a multi-year deal on the open market for the final years of his career. The Red Sox would likely rather pay the buyout and try to work out a cheaper multi-year deal with the veteran at a lower luxury tax hit. 

The two sides will have until five days after the World Series ends to make a decision on their sides of the option.