According to MassLive's Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam, Sonny Gray has interest in signing an extension with the Boston Red Sox. The 36-year-old has a $30 million mutual option next season, and it could be in each side's best interest to commit to a new extension (the Red Sox get to keep their elite pitching staff around, and Gray gets some contract security.
Even though he's in the midst of his 14th major-league season, Gray is playing some of the best baseball of his career. He leads the AL with a 12-2 record (most wins and best winning% - 87.5%), and his 2.78 ERA is currently the third-best of his career (this does include his first year, when he only made 12 appearances and 10 starts, so this should probably be considered his second-best mark).
The Tennessee native clearly still provides a ton of value. He has arguably been Boston's best pitcher this season (which is actually saying a lot), and he's going to be crucial to the team's playoff push (he also should have been an All-Star this year, but that's another story).
Boston needs to do whatever it can to keep Gray around past this season, and if he wants a contract extension, then the team should absolutely oblige.
The Red Sox should extend Sonny Gray... under one condition
It can't be a long-term contract.
Gray has been fantastic in his first season with the Red Sox, and there are reasons to believe he can provide value past this season. But Boston has a great pitching staff with a bunch of talent that, to be direct, is much younger than Gray is (Garrett Crochet - 27 years old, Ranger Suarez - 30 years old, Payton Tolle - 23 years old, Jake Bennett - 25 years old. Plus, they have some intriguing prospects in Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, who are each 21 years old).
The three-time (should be four-time) All-Star is great right now, and he'll probably be great for the next year or two. But he's also not a long-term asset. The Red Sox should absolutely keep him around for another season at least, but if it turns out to be an extension for three or more years, then there's a serious chance of it backfiring.
Regardless, Gray is in the midst of maybe the best season of his career right now, and he is putting the Red Sox in a great position. With roughly two months of baseball left, Boston looks primed for October baseball (who would've thought that would be the case a month ago?), and with Gray in the mix, they are a team that other playoff hopefuls should keep an eye on.
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