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Sonny Gray Leads MLB With 18 Wins After Boston Option Decline

By Drooid · Oct 31, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

Sonny Gray became a free agent after Boston declined his $30 million mutual option, triggering a $10 million buyout.
In 2026 he recorded an 18-5 record, 2.72 ERA, 149 strikeouts and led MLB with 18 wins.
He helped stabilize Boston’s rotation after Garrett Crochet’s shoulder injury and led the AL with a .783 win-loss percentage.

History

The August 12, 1994 MLB strike, halted by acting commissioner Bud Selig on September 14, cancelled the World Series and cost owners $580 million. The dispute forced owners to rewrite contracts—eliminating salary arbitration and reshaping free-agency rules. Decades later, Boston’s 2026 decision to decline a $30 million mutual option on pitcher Sonny Gray, triggering a $10 million buyout, reflects those post-strike contract reforms.

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The August 12, 1994 MLB strike, halted by acting commissioner Bud Selig on September 14, cancelled the World Series and cost owners $580 million. The dispute forced owners to rewrite contracts—eliminating salary arbitration and reshaping free-agency rules. Decades later, Boston’s 2026 decision to decline a $30 million mutual option on pitcher Sonny Gray, triggering a $10 million buyout, reflects those post-strike contract reforms.

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