Sonny Gray, the new addition to the Boston Red Sox pitching rotation, didn't hold back when discussing his past experience with the New York Yankees. Speaking in a video conference, Gray addressed his time in the Bronx, which ended seven years ago, with surprising candor.
When questioned about joining another large-market team after his difficult 2018 season with the Yankees, Gray stated plainly, "New York, it just wasn't a good situation for me. It wasn't a great setup for me and my family. I never wanted to go there in the first place." He elaborated, "When I was there (from mid-2017 through 2018), it just didn't really work for who I am."
During his introductory call with Boston reporters, Gray sported a 2007 Red Sox World Series championship hat, signaling his enthusiasm for his new team. He described his response as an "immediate yes" upon learning that the Cardinals were interested in trading him to the Red Sox.
Gray Embraces Red Sox-Yankees Rivalry
Gray emphasized his eagerness to embrace the classic Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. "What did factor into my decision to come to Boston, it feels good to me to go to a place now where, you know what, it's easy to hate the Yankees, right?" he said. "It's easy to go out and have that rivalry and go into it with full force, full steam ahead. I like the challenge."
Red Sox Focus on Offense
Following the acquisition of Gray, Red Sox general manager Craig Breslow indicated that the team's focus will likely shift to strengthening their offensive lineup, with the goal of adding at least one power hitter. The Red Sox traded two pitchers to St. Louis to acquire Gray, a 36-year-old veteran, to bolster their pitching rotation behind Garrett Crochet.
Questions About Gray's Big-Market Performance
The move has raised questions about Gray's ability to perform under the intense spotlight of a large market, given his struggles with the Yankees. He had a 4.51 ERA over 41 games (34 starts) after being traded from Oakland in 2017. However, Gray expressed confidence in his ability to succeed in Boston, embracing the challenge and the rivalry with the Yankees.