Stop me if you have heard this before: Sonny Gray to the Atlanta Braves in a hypothetical trade? Yes, the long-time rumored trade target for the Braves once again has his name floating around trade rumors. Gray was acquired by the Red Sox last November, but as they enter Thursday at 29-42 and firmly in the basement of the AL East, many baseball pundits have pointed to Boston as a team that could be sellers at this year's trade deadline.
Thus, Gray has been linked as a trade target to multiple contenders. The Braves have a clear need for starting pitching, as their first rough patch of the 2026 season has highlighted the struggles of the backend rotation guys, among other issues.
However, Gray's trade candidacy is an interesting one, to say the least. The 36-year-old veteran holds a full no-trade clause, meaning he can veto any deal the Red Sox agree to. At this point in his career, Sonny Gray has made his money and is likely only interested in pitching for teams with the chance to play in October. Additionally, Buster Olney of ESPN mentioned in his latest trade deadline piece that Sonny Gray has told friends in the past that he'd love to pitch for the Braves.
Sonny Gray tonight against Texas:
— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) June 13, 2026
6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 Ks
Retired 14 Rangers in a row at after a few hits and a run to start the game. His ERA for the year is down to 3.03. pic.twitter.com/eHTu1rTOFm
Sonny Gray sounds open to pitching in Atlanta, so now Alex Anthopoulos needs to make it happen
It's no surprise Gray, the Tennessee native and Vandy alum, is interested in pitching for THE contending team in the southeast. While Gray is not the near top-of-the-rotation guy he used to be, his numbers indicate he is still a very solid No. 3 or 4 in a rotation, something the Braves desperately need.
In 12 starts this season, Gray has a 3.03 ERA, 3.63 FIP, and 1.2 bWAR. He has nearly an even usage distribution between his top five pitches, and is still stingy with handing out free passes. The knock on the 2026 version of Sonny Gray is the noticeable dip in strikeouts. Just a couple of seasons ago, Gray ranked in the upper echelon of MLB pitchers with his 30.3 strikeout rate. This season, that number has plummeted to a 19.9 K%, which ranks him in the 33rd percentile amongst pitchers.
The decline in whiffs is enough to keep teams from throwing a steep package to Boston, and hopefully leads to Alex Anthopoulos inserting himself more into the mix. Sonny Gray has long been a dream hypothetical trade for many in Braves Country, but this could be the year it finally comes to fruition.
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