Braves, Padres and Blue Jays Emerge as Sonny Gray Suitors
Sonny Gray entered free agency after his mutual option was declined, with the Braves, Padres and Blue Jays among the teams identified as potential destinations on November 3.
Sonny Gray is on the open market after he and his team declined their mutual option, ending the possibility of his returning under that agreement. The right-hander had a strong 2026 season, and the Boston Red Sox are expected to be among the teams interested in signing him.
The Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays have also emerged as possible suitors. Atlanta has been linked to Gray repeatedly, and the club is seen as a potential buyer for starting pitching if it cannot acquire a top starter in a trade. Gray’s home state is Tennessee, making the Braves a geographically close option.
San Diego could pursue Gray as it looks to add pitching. The team’s president of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, has a reputation for making aggressive moves, though the club’s available financial resources are a factor in what it can pursue. The Padres are also weighing whether to bring back pitchers Michael King and Adrian Morejon.
Toronto is expected to consider several prominent free-agent starters, including Gray, as well as outfielder Seiya Suzuki. The Blue Jays signed Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce last offseason, and adding Gray would bring a potential rival for Boston within the American League East.
Gray’s market includes multiple teams with reasons to pursue him, leaving Boston facing competition as it considers its rotation needs for the coming season.