Did the Yankees Break Sonny Gray? Inside the Rift He Just Reignited
Sonny Gray did not tiptoe into the rivalry.
Meeting Boston media after his trade from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Boston Red Sox, Gray smiled and leaned right into the history between his new team and his old one.
“It feels good to me to go to a place where it’s easy to hate the Yankees,” he said, according to Boston Globe reporter Tim Healey.
Gray also made a point of saying his time with the New York Yankees changed him for the better, calling himself a better pitcher and even a better husband because of that experience.
For Red Sox fans, that’s catnip. For Yankees fans, it’s a familiar whine. Gray really was a bad fit for the Bronx, despite that some, including Gray’s former Yankees teammate, claim he was just mishandled.
The splits from 2018 show that Gray did not pitch well in the Bronx. During his time with the New York Yankees, Gray posted a 7.71 ERA at Yankee Stadium and a 3.62 ERA on the road, finishing his stint in New York with a 4.85 ERA overall.
That split helped cement the narrative that he “couldn’t pitch in New York.”
But former Yankees catcher Erik Kratz has been pushing a different version of the story. On Foul Territory and in later radio hits, Kratz said Gray’s biggest issue was a clash with then-pitching coach Larry Rothschild, who wanted Gray to lean more on his slider while Gray trusted his curveball and more feel-based pitch calling. Kratz described it as a “contradiction of pitch usage” that left Gray uncomfortable and less effective.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone flatly denied Gray's version.
Since the trade out of the Bronx, Gray has turned in multiple All-Star seasons, a career 3.58 ERA over 1,900-plus innings and a strikeout rate in the mid-20s, with advanced metrics like FIP and xFIP consistently painting him as a top-of-the-rotation arm.
Now he lands in Boston as a 36-year-old anchor.
The Red Sox acquired him from St. Louis after a 2025 season in which he went 14–8 with a 4.28 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 180 2/3 innings, and they reworked his deal so he’s guaranteed $41 million through 2027 while the Cardinals eat a big chunk of the cost.
So yes, Gray just gave the rivalry a fresh quote that will live on every time he faces the Yankees. If Boston lets him be the pitcher he believes he is, that “easy to hate the Yankees” line could be very relevant in October.
Chiefs Have No Choice but to Rely on Jawaan Taylor Despite Mounting Frustrations
There was a moment when the Kansas City Chiefs' offensive line was healthy that it appeared the franchise might finally move away from right tackle Jawaan Taylor. The veteran has been a consistent cause of frustration based on relentless penalties and mistakes that you would expect from a rookie, not an established veteran starter. Still, the Chiefs no longer have a choice when it comes to whether or not Taylor will remain in the starting lineup. Injuries have answered this question and given Taylor a level of job security that isn't deserved.
Rookie tackle Josh Simmons is expected to miss extended time after suffering a fractured and dislocated wrist. Already, star right guard Trey Smith was out, having a high and low ankle sprain that will require time to heal. Now, Kansas City is down two offensive linemen, forcing replacement tackle Jaylon Moore into the lineup to replace Simmons.
This perfectly paints the picture of why the Chiefs have no choice but to trust Taylor and hope that the penalties subside. With that said, it doesn't mean Kansas City is forced to stick with the tackle moving forward if the performance doesn't improve during the season's final weeks.
Chiefs Right Tackle Jawaan Taylor Handed Newfound Job Security Amid Offensive Line Injuries
Taylor is arguably the safest starter along the offensive line based simply on the fact that the Chiefs are out of options at the tackle position. If another injury were to strike, the franchise would be forced to turn to Wanya Morris. This isn't something any KC fan wants to see, understanding just how inept Morris was a season ago in the Chiefs' starting lineup. With this in mind, Taylor has an incredible level of security even if it isn't deserved.
What's so maddening about watching the right tackle play is the fact that there is a level of ability and consistency in his pass protection. Taylor's downfall is simply being unable to quell dumb penalties that appear in the worst possible moments. The mistakes are consistent enough to raise frustrations to a level that has Chiefs fans more than ready to turn the page.
Something that is no longer possible based on the time of year and the fact that there are no other viable options to insert into the lineup. Injuries often present opportunities for players buried on the depth chart or receiving limited snaps; this time, Kansas City's injuries have afforded a surprising level of job security.
Taylor now has an opportunity as well to take advantage of this chance and make his case as to why the tackle must stay in the starting lineup. Something that there is now plenty of time to do, as it seems Simmons' potential return is far down the road in what has been an incredibly disheartening 2025 season. One that still has a chance to be Taylor's last in the Kansas City starting lineup.
