Sonny Gray Isn’t Holding Back: The New Red Sox Ace Says He Never Wanted to Play for the Yankees — and It’s ‘Easy to Hate’ Them
Boston’s newest pitching star, Sonny Gray, is already firing up one of baseball’s most heated rivalries — and he hasn’t even taken the mound for the Red Sox yet.
During a Tuesday media session, the veteran pitcher opened up about his difficult time with the New York Yankees and didn’t mince words when reflecting on his experience. Gray, who now seems fully at ease embracing Boston’s notorious rivalry with New York, said what many in Red Sox Nation were probably thrilled to hear.
“It feels good,” Gray told reporters, via The Boston Globe. “You know what? It’s easy to hate the Yankees. It’s easy to dive into that rivalry with full energy and commitment. I love challenges like that. I’m ready for it — and this time, I just get to be myself.”
That statement alone was enough to send shockwaves through baseball circles. But here’s where it gets controversial: Gray admits he never wanted to be a Yankee at all.
The right-hander explained that his time in New York just didn’t click — not personally, not professionally. “It wasn’t a good situation for me or my family,” he said. “I never wanted to go there in the first place. Back when I was in Oakland and the trade talks started, that wasn’t where I hoped to end up. And once I did, it just didn’t fit who I am.”
Gray’s tenure in pinstripes was indeed uneven. Across 41 games (including 34 starts), he went 15–16 with a 4.51 ERA. By late 2018, the Yankees had removed him from their starting rotation. After the team’s postseason loss to Boston that same year, general manager Brian Cashman publicly confirmed that the team planned to move him, saying the organization couldn’t fully tap into Gray’s potential and that it was time to move on.
What happened next, though, is what truly defines his career. Since parting ways with New York, Gray has rebuilt his reputation as one of the American League’s most dependable starters. He’s posted a 66–50 record with a 3.51 ERA over 184 starts, earned two All-Star selections, and finished second in the 2023 AL Cy Young Award voting.
Now, as he dons the Red Sox jersey, Gray seems eager not just to pitch well — but to make a statement. Facing his old team, in front of fans who once booed him, will undoubtedly reignite emotions on both sides. And Gray doesn’t appear interested in cooling the fire.
Is this just an athlete speaking his truth — or a direct shot at the Yankees organization that never fit his style? Red Sox and Yankees fans alike are bound to have strong opinions on that one.
So what do you think — was Sonny Gray simply misunderstood in New York, or is he stoking the rivalry on purpose now that he’s found a better home in Boston? Drop your thoughts below — this debate is far from over.
