TJ MorinWed, November 26, 2025 at 7:10 PM UTC·2 min readRed Sox predicted to sign $13.75 million former Cy Young runner-up to pair with Sonny Gray as offseason acquisitions, become "true No. 2" originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox made their first splash of the offseason when they traded for St. Louis Cardinals ace Sonny Gray. However, while Gray is a solid pitcher, he’s not the No. 2 the Sox promised fans.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to Fansided’s Chris Landers, the true No. 2 that the Sox can get is San Diego Padres former Cy Young candidate Dylan Cease. Cease is much younger than Gray and can stay paired with Crochet for the foreseeable future.
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“Yes, Boston just traded for Sonny Gray, but he's only under team control through 2026 — and the Red Sox needed multiple arms this winter anyway. Garrett Crochet deserves a long-term running mate, and adding a true No. 2 starter would take this rotation from solid to sensational. Plus, they're still $20 million or so under the luxury tax threshold, so money shouldn't be an issue. The only question is whether Craig Breslow decides to address pitching via yet another trade, keeping his financial powder dry for a run at a bat like Alex Bregman and/or Pete Alonso,” Landers wrote.
This past season, Cease posted a 4.55 ERA, 215 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.327 over 168 innings pitched. However, his advanced stats paint a better picture, with a FIP of 3.56 and a K/9 of 11.5.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMORE: Royals predicted to make blockbuster signing of $186 million two-time All-Star, World Series hero to create superstar infield duo with Bobby Witt Jr.
If the Sox could land Cease, AND get two major bats in Bregman/Alonso, then they could be considered locks for the 2026 World Series. Sure, it may be uncomfortable salary-wise, but the Sox have shown they’re willing to go there in the past.
Hopefully, they realize this and start pursuing Cease right away. He’s a hot commodity, so they need to act quickly; otherwise, another contender will come in and whisk him away.
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