Orioles just got a huge win from rival’s baffling Sonny Gray trade

The Baltimore Orioles are expected to leave no stone unturned in their search for starting pitching this offseason, and their division rival may have just done them a solid. In an early offseason blockbuster trade, the Red Sox have acquired Sonny Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for pitching prospect Brandon Clarke and oft-injured starting pitcher Richard Fitts.

Gray's contract included a no-trade clause, so the veteran starter had to approve the deal, and also saw the terms of his contract reworked. Gray will earn $31 million in 2026 and will have a mutual option buyout of $10 million next offseason. It's essentially a one-year, $41 million deal. The Cardinals are kicking in $20 million, with the Red Sox covering the rest.

Baltimore Orioles could stand to benefit from the Red Sox's desperate trade for Sonny Gray.

Given the need for pitching the Orioles have, chances are Mike Elias made a call to the Cardinals before this trade was completed. In what is a rarity, credit to Elias for not being that desperate.

Already faced with not the strongest of farm systems, if trading for a starting pitcher is the preferred option for the Orioles this offseason, they'd better be sure they are acquiring a top-of-the-rotation arm. Gray has an uncanny ability to stack strikeouts, but he's rarely been an ace throughout his career, and he, at this stage, seems like a No. 3 starting pitcher.

Under those circumstances, it would have been a pretty dramatic prospect overpay for the Orioles, especially since they would also be taking on $21 million. For reference, Freddy Peralta of the Milwaukee Brewers, also believed to be on the trade market, is only making $8 million before hitting free agency next offseason.

Beyond the Red Sox potentially getting fleeced in this deal, Boston is likely out of the trade market for a starting pitcher after this move. Whether it's Peralta, Hunter Green, MacKenzie Gore, or Joe Ryan, the Orioles now have one less team to worry about.