While the Red Sox traded for one pitcher and lost another in the major league phase of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft, they also made three additions in the minor league portion.
In addition to acquiring Ryan Watson from the Athletics and losing Jedixson Paez to the White Sox, the Red Sox selected left-hander Caden Vire from the Brewers, first baseman/outfielder Matt Lloyd from the Cardinals, and catcher Raudelis Martinez from the Rays within the first four rounds of the six-round Triple-A phase.
Vire, 22, was originally selected by the Brewers in the 12th round (357th overall) of the 2021 draft out of Skyview High School in Vancouver, Wash. He forwent his commitment to Arizona State by signing with Milwaukee for $497,500 that August, but has been limited to 22 professional appearances (three starts) since then due to injury.
This past season, Vire appeared in just five games for Milwaukee’s Low-A affiliate (his first at the level), allowing eight earned runs on two hits, 10 walks, and seven strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings of relief. He was placed on the 7-day injured list on May 15 and subsequently transferred to the full-season injured list on June 19.
Listed at 6-foot-6 and 170 pounds, Vire can get up to 98 mph with his fastball and also features a short slider, according to SoxProspects.com’s director of scouting Ian Cundall. If healthy, he would seemingly be a candidate to open the 2026 season in Low-A Salem’s bullpen.
Lloyd, 29, is a former 2019 15th-round draft selection (444th overall pick) of the Reds out of Indiana. Signed for $25,000, the Toronto native was released by Cincinnati in March 2023 and latched on with St. Louis last January following productive stints with the Sioux City Explorers of the independent American Association and the Mayos de Navojoa of the Mexican Pacific Winter League. He spent all of 2024 at Double-A Springfield and the vast majority of 2025 at Triple-A Memphis.
A left-handed hitter, Lloyd batted .272/.364/.434 with 18 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 50 RBIs, 39 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 41 walks, and 77 strikeouts in 78 games (317 plate appearances) for the Redbirds this past season. The 6-foot, 205-pounder made 41 starts at first base, 27 starts at DH, eight starts in left field, and one start at second base. He is likely ticketed for a bench role with Triple-A Worcester out of the gate in 2026.
Martinez, 23, was originally signed by the Rays as an international free agent out of Cuba in September 2020. The left-handed hitter made his professional debut the following July and most recently spent the entire 2025 season at High-A Bowling Green. In 74 games for the Hot Rods, he slashed .239/.339/.317 with seven doubles, four home runs, 38 RBIs, 58 runs scored, two stolen bases, 36 walks, and 40 strikeouts over 290 plate appearances.
From behind the plate, Martinez started 28 games at catcher for Bowling Green and threw out 21 of 67 possible base stealers. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound backstop also made 31 starts at first base and 15 starts at DH. He is a candidate to begin the 2026 season with High-A Greenville.
To go along with the additions of Vire, Lloyd, and Martinez, the Red Sox lost right-handers Eybersson Polanco (Angels), Alvaro Mejias (Rays), and Jonathan Brand (Rangers) in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday.
(Picture of Matt Lloyd: John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
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