Sonny Gray

Boston Red Sox, Starting Pitcher
Age: 36y-4m-3d (Nov 07, 1989)
Exp: 12.061 Years
Country: US
College: Vanderbilt (TN)
Drafted: Round 1 (#18 overall), 2011
Agent(s): Bo McKinnis
2026 Payroll Salary

$11,000,000

2026 Cash

$31,000,000

Career Earnings

$96,580,796

2024-2027 Free Agent (CURRENT)

Sonny Gray signed a 3 year, $75,000,000 contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, including $75,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $25,000,000. In 2026, Gray will earn a base salary of $31,000,000, while carrying a total salary of $31,000,000. Gray's adjusted salary with the St. Louis Cardinals is $11,000,000
Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $75,000,000
Average Salary:
$25,000,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2028 / UFA
YOS @ Signing:
10.061
Year Age YOS Status PayrollAnnual Luxury Tax Tax % League Tax Cash Annual Cash Cumulative
2024 34 10.061 $10,000,000 $25,000,000 10.55% $10,000,000 $10,000,000
2025 35 11.061 $25,000,000 $25,000,000 10.37% $25,000,000 $35,000,000
2026 36 12.061 $11,000,000 $21,000,000 8.61% $11,000,000 $46,000,000
2027 37 12.061
Mutual
 $30,000,000 $25,000,000 - $1,000,000 $47,000,000
2028 38 -
UFA
Retained Salary
2026 36 $20,000,000 $20,000,000 - $20,000,000 -
Year Age Service Status Base Salary Incentives Likely Incentives Unlikely Payroll Salary Luxury Tax
2024 34 10.061 $10,000,000 - - $10,000,000 $25,000,000
2025 35 11.061 $25,000,000 - - $25,000,000 $25,000,000
2026 36 12.061 $31,000,000 - - $11,000,000 $21,000,000
2027 37 -
Mutual
 $30,000,000 - - $30,000,000 $25,000,000
2028 38 --
UFA
Retained Salary
2026 36 $20,000,000 - - $20,000,000 $20,000,000
Year Age Status Base Salary Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2024 34 $10,000,000 $10,000,000 $10,000,000 $67,000,000 $10,000,000 $11,750,000
2025 35 $25,000,000 $25,000,000 $35,000,000 $57,000,000 $17,500,000 $12,333,333
2026 36 $11,000,000 $11,000,000 $46,000,000 $32,000,000 $15,333,333 $6,000,000
2027 37
Mutual
 $1,000,000 $1,000,000 $47,000,000 $1,000,000 $11,750,000 $1,000,000
Retained/Dead Cash
2026 36 - $20,000,000 $20,000,000 - $20,000,000 $20,000,000 $20,000,000
Contract Notes
  • 2027 Club Option includes a $5M buyout (deferred at $1M each of 2027-2031)
  • If the team exercises the 2027 option, the player can opt-out (forfeiting the buyout)
  • Full No Trade Clause (waived per 2026 trade to BOS)
  • BOS Restructure
    2026 salary reduced from $35M to $31M
    2027 mutual option buyout escalated from $5M to $10M
    STL retaining $20M of 2026 salary
Source: MLB contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2019-2023 Arbitration Extension

Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $30,500,000
Average Salary:
$10,166,667
Signing Bonus:
$500,000
YOS @ Signing:
5.061
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2019-2019 Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $7,500,000
Average Salary:
$7,500,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
5.061
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2018-2018 Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $6,500,000
Average Salary:
$6,500,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
4.061
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2017-2017 Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $3,575,000
Average Salary:
$3,575,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
3.061
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2016-2016 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $527,500
Average Salary:
$527,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
2.061
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2015-2015 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $512,500
Average Salary:
$512,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
1.061
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2014-2014 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $502,500
Average Salary:
$502,500
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0.061
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2013-2013 Pre-Arbitration

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $490,000
Average Salary:
$490,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0
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2011-2011 Signing Bonus

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,800,000
Average Salary:
$1,800,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
YOS @ Signing:
0
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Seasons

12.061 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$96,580,796

Earnings w/ Different Teams

5 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Service Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2011 21
-
Signing Bonus
$1,800,000
$1,800,000
2013 23
0
Active
$163,333
$1,963,333
2014 24
0.061
Active
$502,500
$2,465,833
2015 25
1.061
Active
$512,500
$2,978,333
2016 26
2.061
Active
$527,500
$3,505,833
2017 27
3.061
Active / Arb Avoided
Retained
$1,230,768
$2,344,232
$4,736,601
$7,080,833
2018 28
4.061
Active / Arb Avoided
$6,500,000
$13,580,833
2019 29
5.061
Active / Arbitration 3 Bypassed
$8,300,000
$21,880,833
2020 30
6.061
Active
$3,999,963
$25,880,796
2021 31
7.061
Active
$10,700,000
$36,580,796
2022 32
8.061
Injured
$11,700,000
$48,280,796
2023 33
9.061
Active / Club Exercised
$13,300,000
$61,580,796
 All MLB (2nd)
2024 34
10.061
Injured
$10,000,000
$71,580,796
2025 35
11.061
Active
$25,000,000
$96,580,796
Total      
$96,580,796
$96,580,796
2026 36
12.061
Active
Retained
$11,000,000
$20,000,000
2027 37
12.061
Active / Mutual
$1,000,000
Total
$128,580,796

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
6 $4,050,065 $1,800,000 - $5,850,065
2 $7,730,768 - - $7,730,768
3 $22,162,963 $500,000 $337,000 $22,999,963
2 $23,400,000 - $1,600,000 $25,000,000
2 $35,000,000 - - $35,000,000
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2011
21
$1,800,000
$1,800,000
$1,800,000
2013
23
$163,333
$163,333
$1,963,333
2014
24
$502,500
$502,500
$2,465,833
2015
25
$512,500
$512,500
$2,978,333
2016
26
$527,500
$527,500
$3,505,833
2017
27
$1,230,768
$2,344,232
$1,230,768
$2,344,232
$4,736,601
$7,080,833
2018
28
$6,500,000
$6,500,000
$13,580,833
2019
29
$7,500,000
$500,000
$300,000
$8,300,000
$21,880,833
2020
30
$3,962,963
$37,000
$3,999,963
$25,880,796
2021
31
$10,700,000
$10,700,000
$36,580,796
2022
32
$10,700,000
$1,000,000
$11,700,000
$48,280,796
2023
33
$12,700,000
$600,000
$13,300,000
$61,580,796
2024
34
$10,000,000
$10,000,000
$71,580,796
2025
35
$25,000,000
$25,000,000
$96,580,796
Total
$92,343,796
$2,300,000
$1,937,000
$96,580,796
$96,580,796
2026
36
$11,000,000
$20,000,000
$11,000,000
$20,000,000
2027
37
$1,000,000
$1,000,000
Total
$124,343,796
$2,300,000
$1,937,000
$128,580,796

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Incentives Cash Cumulative
6 $4,050,065 $1,800,000 - $5,850,065
2 $7,730,768 - - $7,730,768
3 $22,162,963 $500,000 $337,000 $22,999,963
2 $23,400,000 - $1,600,000 $25,000,000
2 $35,000,000 - - $35,000,000

Injuries

Year Dates Reason
2024 STL Sep 19, 2024 - Sep 29, 2024 Arm
2024 STL Mar 28, 2024 - Apr 09, 2024 Hamstring
2022 MIN Sep 20, 2022 - Oct 05, 2022 Hamstring
2022 MIN May 30, 2022 - Jun 15, 2022 Pectoral
2022 MIN Apr 17, 2022 - May 07, 2022 Hamstring
2021 CIN Jul 08, 2021 - Jul 18, 2021 Ribs
2021 CIN Jun 09, 2021 - Jul 02, 2021 Groin
2021 CIN Apr 01, 2021 - Apr 17, 2021 Back
2020 CIN Sep 13, 2020 - Sep 22, 2020 Back
2017 OAK Apr 02, 2017 - May 01, 2017 Arm
2016 OAK Aug 08, 2016 - Sep 28, 2016 Arm
2016 OAK May 22, 2016 - Jun 05, 2016 Back
  • Nov 25, 2025 Traded to Boston (BOS) from St. Louis (STL) for Brandon Clarke and Richard Fitts
  • Nov 27, 2023 Signed a 3 year $75 million contract with St. Louis (STL), plus a club option for 2027
  • Nov 14, 2023 Declined a $20.325 million Qualifying Offer from Minnesota (MIN)
  • Nov 06, 2023 Minnesota (MIN) extended a $20.325 million Qualifying Offer
  • Nov 06, 2022 Minnesota (MIN) exercised a $12.7 million club option for 2023
  • Mar 13, 2022 Traded to Minnesota (MIN) from Cincinnati (CIN) with Francis Peguero for Chase Petty
  • Jan 21, 2019 Signed a 3 year $30.5 million contract extension with Cincinnati (CIN), including a club option for 2023
  • Jan 21, 2019 Traded to Cincinnati (CIN) from New York (NYY) with Reiver Sanmartin for Shed Long and 2019 1st round pick [Competitive Balance Round A] (#38 Competitive Balance Round A)
  • Jan 11, 2019 Signed a 1 year $7.5 million contract with New York (NYY), avoiding arbitration
  • Jan 12, 2018 Signed a 1 year $6.5 million contract with New York (NYY), avoiding arbitration
  • Jul 31, 2017 Traded to New York (NYY) from Oakland (OAK) with International Bonus Pool Cap Space ($1,500,000) for Dustin Fowler, Jorge Mateo and James Kaprielian
  • Jan 13, 2017 Signed a 1 year $3.575 million contract with Oakland (OAK), avoiding arbitration
  • Mar 04, 2016 Signed a 1 year $527,500 contract with Oakland (OAK)
  • Mar 03, 2015 Signed a 1 year $512,500 contract with Oakland (OAK)
  • Mar 03, 2014 Signed a 1 year $505k contract with Oakland (OAK)
  • Jul 25, 2011 Signed a contract with Oakland (OAK)
  • Jun 06, 2011 Drafted by Oakland (OAK): Round 1 (#18 overall)
Year Team GP GS H R ER BB K HR W L SV IP ERA WHIP WAR
2025 STL 32 32 185 93 86 38 201 25 14 8 0 180.7 4.28 1.23 1.35
2024 STL 28 28 142 79 71 39 203 21 13 9 0 166.3 3.84 1.09 1.85
2023 MIN 32 32 156 59 57 55 183 8 8 8 0 184.0 2.79 1.15 5.36
2022 MIN 24 24 99 44 41 36 117 11 8 5 0 119.7 3.08 1.13 2.41
2021 CIN 26 26 115 67 63 50 155 19 7 9 0 135.3 4.19 1.22 3.12
2020 CIN 11 11 42 26 23 26 72 4 5 3 0 56.0 3.70 1.21 0.79
2019 CIN 34 31 122 59 56 68 205 17 11 8 0 175.3 2.88 1.08 6.15
2018 NYY 30 23 138 73 71 57 123 14 11 9 0 130.3 4.90 1.50 0.14
2017 NYY 27 27 139 79 64 57 153 19 10 12 0 162.3 3.55 1.21 2.52
2016 OAK 22 22 133 80 74 42 94 18 5 11 0 117.0 5.69 1.50 -0.33
2015 OAK 31 31 166 71 63 59 169 17 14 7 0 208.0 2.73 1.08 5.40
2014 OAK 33 33 187 84 75 74 183 15 14 10 0 219.0 3.08 1.19 3.30
2013 OAK 12 10 51 22 19 20 67 4 5 3 0 64.0 2.67 1.11 1.43
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