Intense Rivalry Heats Up Ahead of 2026 Season

The storied rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox is set to gain even more intensity in 2026, as Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman recently called out pitcher Sonny Gray for his remarks regarding his time in New York. During the winter meetings, Cashman shared insights into Gray's conflicting feelings about joining the Yankees after being traded from the Oakland Athletics in July 2017.

Cashman recounted that Gray expressed a strong desire to play for the Yankees while still with the A's, stating, "You got to get me over to the Yankees. Tell Cash, get me over to the Yankees. I want out of Oakland. I want a championship." However, Cashman revealed that this enthusiasm quickly faded during Gray's first full season in the Bronx, as Gray reportedly told him that he 'never wanted to be here' and described New York as 'the worst place.'

Gray's Recent Red Sox Comments

The tensions have flared again after Gray, speaking on December 4 following his acquisition by the Red Sox from the St. Louis Cardinals, declared that he "never wanted" to play for the Yankees and expressed happiness with his new team, where he feels it’s "easy to hate the Yankees." Cashman responded to this declaration by stating that Gray's agent, Bo McKinnis, had advised him to feign interest in the Yankees for the sake of his free agency.

In reply, McKinnis denied Cashman's claims, stating, "Brian is trying to make people believe I told Sonny to, in Cashman's words, 'lie' to the minor-league video guy to try to get Sonny to the Yankees—even though, per Cashman, Sonny did not want to be with the Yankees." He further emphasized that Gray never expressed a desire to exit Oakland, having enjoyed his time with the club.

Impact on the Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry

Gray's time with the Yankees was less than stellar, posting a 4.51 ERA over 195.2 innings in 41 appearances before being dropped from the rotation late in the 2018 season. However, since departing New York, Gray has revitalized his career, achieving a solid 3.51 ERA with over 1,136 strikeouts across 184 starts.

This ongoing verbal battle between Cashman and Gray adds a layer of intrigue as both the Yankees and Red Sox prepare for the upcoming season with playoff aspirations. Gray has only pitched at Yankee Stadium once since being traded, where he limited the Yankees to just one earned run while striking out seven batters in a 4-3 victory for the Minnesota Twins on September 8, 2022. Fans will eagerly anticipate the Red Sox's first trip to Yankee Stadium next season, a three-game series set for June 5-7.