The Red Sox’s season ended in ugly fashion Wednesday night, and Sonny Gray didn’t hide his frustration when it was over.
Boston was bounced from the playoffs by the New York Yankees in the Wild Card series, and Gray was among the players left fuming afterward. He was lifted in the fifth inning despite having thrown just 70 pitches and allowing only one run to that point. Manager Chad Tracy turned to ex-Giant Erik Miller, who had come over to Boston at the trade deadline, and Miller immediately surrendered an RBI single to Cody Bellinger.
Gray’s postgame comments made the tension plain. Asked about the decision to pull him, he said, “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."
When he was asked if he wanted to return to Boston next year, he answered, “I don’t know.”
That uncertainty matters because Gray’s contract includes a mutual option with the Red Sox. Boston can exercise its club option, and then Gray would get the chance to decide on his player option. The Red Sox could also buy out the rest of the deal, which would send Gray to free agency, and he could opt out as well.
Maybe it was just the sting of a hard loss talking, but the reaction didn’t exactly sound like a player eager to stick around. If Gray does reach the market, the Giants could be in the mix.
San Francisco still needs to flesh out its rotation, which right now includes only Logan Webb, Landen Roupp, and possibly Adrian Houser. An experienced starter like Gray would fit that need, especially if the Giants are looking for a shorter commitment. At his age, he could be a realistic target on a one- or two-year deal.
Gray’s 2026 season gave plenty of reasons for teams to take notice. He went 18-5 with a 2.72 ERA in 29 starts, logged 169 innings, and struck out 149 while walking 46. His 3.72 FIP suggests things may have tilted a bit in his favor, but it was still a strong year.
Retirement is also still on the table for the soon-to-be 37-year-old, so nothing is guaranteed. But if he wants to keep pitching, San Francisco makes sense on paper. Gray previously pitched for the Oakland Athletics, so he already knows the Bay Area, and if he’s looking for a final stop that lines up with where his career began, the Giants would be a natural fit.
For now, it’s all speculative. But after the way things ended in Boston, Gray may be ready for a fresh start, and that could make San Francisco a team to watch.
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