Alex Cora Addresses Concerns About Sonny Gray's Role in the Red Sox Rotation
The Red Sox recently unveiled their starting pitchers for the Grapefruit League's initial week, but a significant omission was noted. When asked about it on Friday morning, Red Sox manager Alex Cora assured fans that there was no cause for alarm regarding the new right-handed pitcher, Sonny Gray.
Cora humorously explained, "Sonny is part of the veteran program. He enjoys pitching on the main field, but he's also comfortable throwing on the practice fields, so his schedule is a work in progress. However, he'll get his fair share of practice and be ready when his time comes."
With 14 years of experience in the MLB, the 36-year-old Gray is a seasoned veteran on the Red Sox roster. He had a successful 2025 season in St. Louis, boasting a 4.28 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings. This year, he is expected to join forces with Garrett Crochet, Ranger Suarez, and Brayan Bello in the Red Sox rotation.
Cora also discussed the criteria for selecting the fifth starter from the remaining candidates, including Johan Oviedo, Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, Connelly Early, and Payton Tolle. He emphasized the importance of roster construction, especially during the early stages of the season, as most of the competing players have options.
"Initially, we'll focus on letting them compete and then decide our next steps," Cora stated. "Roster management is crucial, particularly at the beginning of the season, as we navigate the majority of these players with options. It's clear that we won't be implementing a six-man rotation at this point."
Cora continued, "Our priority is to make decisions that benefit the team in the early stages of the season. There will be players in Triple-A who are eager and ready to step up whenever we need them."
Cora's plan is for the Red Sox starters to pitch for approximately two innings in their initial outings, gradually increasing their workload.
