In a strategic move to bolster their pitching lineup, the Boston Red Sox have set their sights on Sonny Gray, a seasoned pitcher who could fill the gap they faced in Game 2 last season.

According to Jon Heyman of The Post, the Red Sox are acquiring Gray, who is well-known for his tenure with the Yankees. This acquisition comes as part of a trade deal that underscores Boston’s determination to enhance their competitiveness, especially after clinching a spot in the American League wild-card last season.

Gray, now 36, agreed to waive his no-trade clause, paving the way for his transition to Boston. Financially, the Red Sox will shoulder $20 million of Gray’s $35 million salary for the upcoming season. Additionally, the contract includes a mutual option for 2027 set at $30 million, with an accompanying $5 million buyout, as reported by ESPN.

In exchange, the St. Louis Cardinals are set to receive pitching prospect Brandon Clarke and Richard Fitts, another former Yankee pitcher, which highlights the Cardinals’ strategy to invest in promising talent. This deal, as detailed by ESPN, reflects a calculated exchange of experienced and emerging players between the two franchises.

St. Louis is receiving pitching prospect Brandon Clarke and another ex-Yankee pitcher in Richard Fitts, per ESPN.

The Red Sox enjoyed a nice run to the postseason last year, but their lack of a frontline starter next to ace Garrett Crochet hampered the team in the postseason.

Boston did not trust Brayan Bello in Game 2, and then turned to rookie Connelly Early with their season on the line against the Yankees in Game 3.

To take that next step in the loaded AL East, the Red Sox hope to have better options in a short series next October.

“Starting pitching,” Red Sox’s Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow said earlier this month while previewing the team’s offseason, per MLB.com.

“And particularly someone we feel can start alongside or slot in behind Garrett and start a playoff game for us. Because of the depth that we’ve built up over the last couple of years, we feel pretty good about overall starting pitching and Nos. 3-ish through 10-ish, and that’s not to take away from guys who are certainly capable of doing more. It’s just to say, I don’t think we’re going to spend a ton of time trying to add a No. 4 or a No. 5 starter. If we’re going to make a starting pitching addition, I think it should be somebody who can pitch at the front of a rotation and start a playoff game for us.”

Whether Gray is a Game 2 pitcher is debatable entering his age-36 season, but he’s a dependable veteran who eats innings.

The 13-year veteran has enjoyed success in his career mostly aside from his failed stint in the Bronx, and went 27-17 with a 4.07 ERA spanning 60 starts over the last two years with St. Louis.

He posted a 101 ERA+, meaning his metric graded out just a tad above average, although his FIP (fielding independent percentage) stood at 3.26.

Gray still can tally strikeouts, notching 203 in 2023 and 201 this past season.

Boston now figures to pivot toward adding a big bat this offseason, with Alex Bregman a free agent after opting out following his first year with the team.

Mets star Pete Alonso could make sense for the team.

The Red Sox have also been linked to catcher J.T. Realmuto.

For the Cardinals, this begins the team’s rebuild under new top baseball executive Chaim Bloom, who previously served in that role with Boston.

Outfielder Brendan Donovan reportedly is a hot commodity who could also be moved.

Clarke was Boston’s fifth-ranked prospect, per MLB.com, while Fitts went 2-5 with a 3.97 ERA spanning 11 starts over two seasons with the Red Sox after being included in the Alex Verdugo trade.