The Red Sox trade package to acquire starting pitcher Sonny Gray on Tuesday included them sending a top pitching prospect to the Cardinals.

Boston traded lefty Brandon Clarke, who MLB Pipeline had ranked Boston’s No. 5 prospect, to St. Louis. The Sox also parted with 25-year-old righty Richard Fitts, who missed the final 30 games of 2025 on the 15-day injured list with right arm neuritis.

The 22-year-old Clarke posted a 4.03 ERA in 14 starts for Low-A Salem and High-A Greenville in 2025. Boston drafted him in the fifth round (148th overall) in 2024 out of State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota and gave him a $400,000 signing bonus.

MLB Pipeline grades Clarke’s fastball 60 (above average) and his slider 70 (well/well above average) on its 20-80 grading scale.

Baseball America wro

See Full Page