Brendan Campbell

Red Sox sign former Yankees first-round pick TJ Sikkema to minor league contract

The Red Sox have signed free-agent left-hander TJ Sikkema to a minor league contract, the club announced on Tuesday. The deal includes an invitation to major league spring training.

Sikkema, 27, has never pitched in the majors. The Iowa native was originally selected by the Yankees with the 38th overall pick in the 2019 draft out of Missouri. He received a $1.95 million signing bonus and made his professional debut that June.

After not pitching in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic or in 2021 due to lat and shoulder issues, Sikkema was traded by the Yankees to the Royals alongside right-handers Beck Way and Chandler Champlain for outfielder Andrew Benintendi in July 2022. The lefty entered the 2023 season ranked by Baseball America as Kansas City’s No. 16 prospect but struggled to a 5.85 ERA in 34 relief appearances (72 1/3 innings) at the Double-A level. He was then scooped up by the Reds in the minor league phase of that December’s Rule 5 Draft.

Sikkema spent the last two seasons in the Reds organization before electing free agency in November. In 2025 alone, he posted a 4.57 ERA with 72 strikeouts to 31 walks in 23 appearances (15 starts) spanning a career-high 86 2/3 innings between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. That includes a 3.47 ERA with 16 strikeouts to eight walks over five outings (four starts) and 23 1/3 innings for Cincinnati’s top affiliate after being promoted in late August. In his first taste of action at the Triple-A level, opposing hitters in the International League batted .247 against him.

Listed at 6-foot and 211 pounds, Sikkema featured five different pitches in his brief stint with Louisville last year. He worked with a lower-90s four-seam fastball and sinker, a lower-80s changeup, an upper-70s slider, and a sparsely-used mid-70s curveball. His 1.4 percent barrel rate ranked in the 85th percentile of all Triple-A pitchers in 2025, per Prospect Savant.

With experience as a starter and coming out of the bullpen, Sikkema figures to provide the Red Sox with versatile pitching depth from the left side at Triple-A Worcester to open the 2026 season. In addition to Sikkema, Boston added fellow southpaw Alec Gamboa, righties Osvaldo Berrios, Hobie Harris, and Devin Sweet, catcher Jason Delay, and infielder Vinny Capra to its spring training roster as non-roster invitees on Tuesday.

(Picture of TJ Sikkema: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Red Sox agree to minor league deal with former Pirates farmhand Matt Fraizer

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with outfielder Matt Fraizer, as was first reported by Chase Ford of MiLB Central. The deal, which Fraizer himself confirmed on Instagram, does not include an invite to major league spring training.

Fraizer, who turns 28 later this month, has spent the entirety of his professional career to this point with the Pirates but has never played in the majors. The California native was originally selected by Pittsburgh in the third round (95th overall) of the 2019 draft out of the University of Arizona. He received a $525,000 signing bonus and emerged as an intriguing prospect on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Following a breakout 2021 season in which he batted .306/.388/.552 with 23 home runs and 68 RBIs in 112 games (499 plate appearances) between High-A and Double-A to earn minor league player of the year honors within the organization, Fraizer entered 2022 as Baseball America’s 12th-ranked Pirates prospect. From there, however, he stalled out in the upper levels of Pittsburgh’s system.

After first reaching Triple-A Indianapolis in 2024, Fraizer spent most of last year with the Pirates’ top affiliate. The left-handed hitter slashed .305/.361/.452 with 18 doubles, one triple, three home runs, 20 RBIs, 29 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, 19 walks, and 44 strikeouts in 62 games (220 plate appearances). He did not make his season debut until May 2 and ended the campaign on the injured list before electing free agency in November.

Defensively, Fraizer has plenty of experience at all three outfield positions. In 2025 alone, the 6-foot-2, 220-pounder made 23 starts in right field, 16 starts in left field, and 10 starts in center field, recording two assists and committing just one error in 112 total chances. He also made five starts at DH.

As noted by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, the Red Sox have an exorbitant amount of outfield depth at the major league level, but were somewhat light in that area at Triple-A Worcester this winter following the departures of Jhostynxon Garcia (who was traded to the Pirates last month) and Trayce Thompson (who is a minor league free agent). To that end, Fraizer now figures to join the likes of Braiden Ward, Corey Rosier, and Phillip Sikes as outfielders not on the 40-man roster who could see significant playing time with the WooSox out of the gate in 2026.

(Picture of Matt Fraizer: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Which pitching prospects did Red Sox trade to Cardinals for Willson Contreras?

For the second time in as many months, the Red Sox swung a significant trade with the Cardinals on Sunday night.

After matching up on a deal that sent veteran starter Sonny Gray to Boston and pitchers Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke to St. Louis in late November, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom connected yet again to close out the final weekend before Christmas.

As was first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Red Sox acquired first baseman Willson Contreras and $8 million in cash considerations from the Cardinals for right-handers Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo, and Blake Aita.

This article will focus on the two prospects swapping teams in the deal: Fajardo and Aita.

Fajardo, who turned 19 in October, was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 9 prospect. The Venezuelan-born righty was acquired by the Red Sox from the White Sox for left-handed reliever Cam Booser exactly one year ago Sunday. He originally signed with Chicago for $400,000 as an international free agent in February 2024 and earned Dominican Summer League All-Star honors in his professional debut.

Fajardo undoubtedly took another step forward in his stateside debut this past season. In 19 outings (17 starts) between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem, he posted a 2.25 ERA (2.47 FIP) with 83 strikeouts to 27 walks over 72 innings in which opponents batted .204 against him. That includes a 2.98 ERA (2.50 FIP) in his final 13 starts (51 1/3 innings) after being promoted in June. He was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week twice and the Carolina League Pitcher of the Month for August.

Among 96 Carolina League pitchers who threw at least 50 innings in 2025, Fajardo ranked third in FIP and swinging-strike rate (15.9 percent), ninth in strikeout rate (27.8 percent), 11th in strikeouts per nine innings (10.34) and xFIP (3.14), 15th in groundball rate (50 percent), 26th in ERA, 33rd in WHIP (1.23), 36th in walks per nine innings (3.51), 39th in walk rate (9.4 percent), and 41st in batting average against (.229), per FanGraphs.

Listed at a projectable 6-foot-3 and 181 pounds, Fajardo throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a high leg kick into his repeatable delivery. He operates with a four-pitch mix that includes a 93-96 mph two/four-seam fastball that can reach 97 mph, an 82-86 mph slider, and an 85-88 mph kick-changeup, as noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report.

Aita, meanwhile, was set to be ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 26 prospect. The 22-year-old righty was selected by the Red Sox in the sixth round (177th overall) of the 2024 draft out of Kennesaw State and received an under-slot $300,000 signing bonus. He split his first full professional season between Salem and Greenville, posting a 3.98 ERA (4.10 FIP) with 99 strikeouts to 30 walks over 23 total outings (19 starts) spanning 115 1/3 innings in which opposing hitters batted .215 against him.

After taking home Carolina League Pitcher of the Week honors on two separate occasions early in the season, Aita was promoted to Greenville on June 10. From there, he closed out the 2025 campaign by forging a 3.78 ERA (4.61 FIP) with 54 strikeouts to 21 walks in 13 outings (10 starts) and 64 1/3 innings for the Drive. He held opponents in the hitter-friendly South Atlantic League to a .194 batting average.

Among 55 South Atlantic League pitchers who threw at least 60 innings in 2025, Aita notably ranked sixth in WHIP (1.03), 10th in batting average against, 16th in line-drive rate (19.8 percent), 19th in walks per nine innings (2.94), and 21st in walk rate (8.1 percent), per FanGraphs.

Known for his ability to spin the ball, Aita throws from a high-three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a high leg kick into his delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound hurler features a 92-95 mph fastball while also mixing in an 80-82 mph sweeper, an 86-89 mph cutter, and an 85-89 mph changeup into his arsenal.

(Picture of Willson Contreras: Matt Dirksen/Getty Images)

Red Sox trade Luis Perales to Nationals for fellow pitching prospect Jake Bennett

The Red Sox and Nationals swung an interesting trade involving two pitching prospects on Monday night, with Boston acquiring left-hander Jake Bennett from Washington for right-hander Luis Perales.

Neither Bennett nor Perales has pitched in the majors yet, though they were already on their respective clubs’ 40-man rosters. Bennett was added last month, so he has three minor league options remaining. Perales, on the other hand, was added in November 2023 and has just one option remaining.

This unique one-for-one swap marks the first major trade Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has made with one of his former top lieutenants in Paul Toboni, who left his role as assistant general manager in October to take over as the Nationals’ president of baseball operations.

Bennett, who turned 25 earlier this month, was originally selected by the Nationals in the second round (45th overall) of the 2022 draft out of Oklahoma. The former Sooner received a $1,734,800 signing bonus and made his professional debut in April 2023, only to undergo Tommy John surgery that September and miss the entire 2024 season as a result.

Bennett returned to the mound this past May and pitched at three levels, posting a 2.27 ERA (2.96 FIP) with 64 strikeouts to 19 walks over 19 appearances. (18 starts) totaling 75 1/3 innings between Low-A, High-A, and Double-A. Upon being promoted from High-A Wilmington to Double-A Harrisburg in July, the lefty forged a 2.56 ERA (3.20 FIP) with 33 strikeouts to 11 walks in 10 outings (nine starts) and 45 2/3 innings. He then struck out 25 (and walked only five) across 20 innings in the Arizona Fall League en route to being named an AFL All-Star.

Added to the Nationals’ 40-man roster for Rule 5 Draft protection purposes in November, Bennett was ranked as the organization’s No. 6 prospect by Baseball America, which characterized him as “a no-doubt starter with a good chance to settle in as a No. 4 type in a rotation.” Per his BA scouting report, the 6-foot-6, 234-pound southpaw has “a wide assortment of pitches that play up because he gets down the mound with plus extension. While he doesn’t blow batters away with raw velocity, Bennett is around the zone with six different pitches he can use to attack both sides of the plate. His four-seam fastball velocity was a tick higher in 2025 than it had been during his pro debut and averaged 92-93 mph and topped out near 96.

“His low three-quarters arm slot adds deception,” it continues. “He mixes in sinkers and occasional cutters to vary his fastball looks. Bennett’s carrying secondary pitch is his mid-80s changeup that fades to his arm side and flummoxes minor league right-handed batters, who hit .210 with no home runs against him in 2025. He has good touch on an average low-to-mid-80s slider and high-70s curveball, both of which he can spot for strikes and elicit some chases. He throws breaking pitches only about 20% of the time, opting for more of a fastball/changeup attack. Bennett has plus control of his entire arsenal.”

In a text exchange with MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, Breslow said that the Red Sox “feel like Bennett is a high probability starter that excels in some things that are hard to teach. Fastball playability driven by above-average extension and strike-throwing ability. His whiff rates and ability to manage hard contact have us confident in his ability to be a major league starter.”

Perales, who turns 23 in April, was ranked as Boston’s No. 5 prospect by Baseball America, which described him as having “a bazooka” for an arm. The native Venezuelan originally signed with the Red Sox for $75,000 as an international free agent in July 2019 and steadily rose through the system before reaching Double-A Portland in May 2024. He, unfortunately, tore the UCL in his pitching elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery the following month.

After a lengthy rehab process, Perales returned to Portland and reached Triple-A Worcester late in the 2025 season, appearing in three games for the two affiliates. Like Bennett, Perales then headed out west to pitch in the Arizona Fall League. There, the hard-throwing righty got up to 101 mph with his fastball and earned AFL All-Star honors, though he walked 11 (and struck out 19) in his 11 1/3 innings of work.

Unlike Bennett, Perales is more undersized at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds. Before Monday’s trade, he was expected to possibly factor into Boston’s 2026 rotation mix alongside other young pitchers like Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, Kyle Harrison, and Hunter Dobbins, among others. He will now begin this next chapter of his professional career with a rebuilding Nationals team and should have a chance to reach the majors as soon as next year.

(Picture of Luis Perales: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Longtime Red Sox pitching prospect Bryan Mata taking talents to Japan, signing with NPB’s Yomiuri Giants

Earlier this week, it was revealed that longtime Red Sox pitching prospect Bryan Mata was taking his talents to Japan. Though terms have not yet been disclosed, it appears as though the 26-year-old right-hander is signing with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Originally signed by the Red Sox for $25,000 as an international free agent in January 2016, Mata spent 10 years in the organization without ever reaching the majors. Upon entering the professional ranks, the native Venezuelan quickly emerged as one of Boston’s premier pitching talents and represented the club in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game at just 19. He was ranked by Baseball America as a top-10 prospect in the team’s farm system each year from 2018 to 2023, peaking at No. 4 on three occasions.

Despite showing intriguing flashes at times, Mata’s tenure with the Red Sox was ultimately marred by injuries. After being added to the club’s 40-man roster for Rule 5 Draft protection purposes in November 2020, for instance, the right-hander suffered a slight UCL tear that resulted in him undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing the entire 2021 season. He returned to action in June 2022 and ended the year on a high note, only to suffer additional setbacks in 2023 and 2024.

In 2024 alone, Mata was limited to just 22 2/3 innings across four minor league levels due to a plethora of injuries. After being pulled from multiple rehab assignments and landing on the 60-day injured list, Mata — who was out of options — was designated for assignment and subsequently non-tendered last November. The Red Sox then brought him back on a minor league contract for 2025 that included an invitation to major league spring training.

As part of an impressive camp in Fort Myers, Mata appeared in four Grapefruit League games this past spring and was one of manager Alex Cora’s final roster cuts before Opening Day. The hard-throwing righty ended up spending all of 2025 at Triple-A Worcester, posting a 5.08 ERA with 93 strikeouts to 39 walks over 42 relief appearances (67 1/3 innings) in which opponents batted .268 against him. Though Mata displayed significant velocity on his fastball and the ability to induce whiffs with his secondaries, he never really factored into Boston’s big league bullpen mix.

A minor league free agent at season’s end, Mata drew widespread interest from MLB teams looking to bring him in on a non-roster deal for 2026. The Red Sox were not among them, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo, who noted that Mata also had offers from other overseas clubs.

Mata, who turns 27 in May, will now look to turn a new leaf in Japan and perhaps re-establish his value there if he plans on returning to the United States in the future. In the meantime, Mata is freshly removed from a strong stint in the Venezuelan Winter League, as he forged a 1.57 ERA with 34 strikeouts to seven walks over nine outings (seven starts) spanning 34 1/3 innings for the Navegantes del Magallanes.

(Picture of Bryan Mata: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Who did Red Sox add in minor league phase of Rule 5 Draft?

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)

Which prospect did Red Sox trade to Athletics for Rule 5 pick Ryan Watson?

Following the conclusion of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft, the Red Sox swung a trade with the Athletics for a pitcher who had just heard his name called.

In exchange for right-hander Ryan Watson, whom the Athletics took from the Giants system with the eighth overall pick in the major league phase, the Red Sox sent infield/outfield prospect Justin Riemer and cash considerations to the A’s.

MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo was the first to report news of the trade.

Riemer, who turns 24 in February, was not ranked among Boston’s top 60 prospects by SoxProspects.com. The Virginia native was originally selected by the Red Sox out of Wright State with the 133rd overall pick in the 2023 draft, which the club received as compensation for losing Nathan Eovaldi to the Rangers in free agency the previous winter. He received an above-slot $500,000 signing bonus but was recovering from a torn ACL at that time, which pushed his professional debut back until last July.

After splitting the remainder of the 2024 season between the Florida Complex League and High-A Greenville, Riemer spent the majority of 2025 with the latter affiliate. Though he was sidelined from April 16 to May 15 with a shoulder injury, the right-handed hitter batted .232/.423/.275 with six doubles, one home run, 16 RBIs, 33 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 64 walks, and 55 strikeouts in 76 games (279 plate appearances) for the Drive. He appeared in six games (August 23-24, September 10-14) across two separate stints with Double-A Portland as well, going 4-for-18 (.222) with one double, two RBIs, five runs scored, five walks, and five strikeouts.

Overall, Riemer slashed .231/.421/.276 with seven doubles, one home run, 18 RBIs, 38 runs scored, nine stolen bases, 69 walks, and 60 strikeouts in 82 total games (303 plate appearances) between Greenville and Portland this past season. Among 36 Red Sox minor leaguers who made at least 300 trips to the plate, Riemer ranked first in walk rate (22.8 percent), on-base percentage, and swinging-strike rate (3.2 percent), fourth in wRC+ (123), seventh in wOBA (.360), and ninth in strikeout rate (19.8 percent), per FanGraphs.

On the other side of the ball, Riemer saw playing time at five different positions between his stops in Greenville and Portland this year. The versatile 5-foot-10, 170-pounder logged 309 innings at second base, 179 innings at third base, 108 innings in left field, 40 innings in right field, and 14 innings at shortstop, committing eight errors in 299 total defensive chances. He also made three starts at DH.

Though he has yet to hit for much power to this point in his career, Riemer has drawn praise for his advanced approach, pitch recognition, and bat-to-ball skills. Those traits, among others, must have stood out to the Athletics when putting together this one-for-one swap with the Red Sox.

With that being said, Riemer — barring another move — seems likely to open the 2026 season with either the Athletics’ High-A or Double-A affiliate. It is worth noting that he is in line to become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft for the first time next winter.

(Picture of Justin Riemer: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox lose pitching prospect Jedixson Paez to White Sox in Rule 5 Draft

The Red Sox lost pitching prospect Jedixson Paez to the White Sox in the major league phase of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft.

Paez was taken by Chicago with the second overall pick. The White Sox will now be tasked with keeping the right-hander, who turns 22 next month, on their active roster for the entire 2026 season (barring an injured list stint). If not, they will have to offer him back to the Red Sox for $50,000 (half of the $100,000 selection fee) should he clear waivers.

Hailing from Venezuela, Paez originally signed with the Red Sox for $450,000 as an international free agent in January 2021. The Tinaquillo native made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League shortly thereafter and was later named Boston’s Latin Program Pitcher of the Year. Since making the jump stateside in 2022, he has steadily climbed the organizational ladder.

After first reaching High-A last May, Paez returned to Greenville for the start of the 2025 campaign as Baseball America’s 21st-ranked Red Sox prospect. Due to a right calf strain suffered in late April, however, the righty spent nearly four months on the injured list before returning to action in mid-August. When on the mound, though, he posted a 2.79 ERA (4.32 FIP) with 23 strikeouts to three walks in seven starts (19 1/3 innings) for the Drive. Opposing hitters in the South Atlantic League batted .228 against him.

Despite having yet to pitch above the High-A level, Paez was an enticing option for the White Sox given his advanced feel for command and control, as evidenced by his career 3.9 percent walk rate in 307 2/3 minor league innings. Baseball America even described the 6-foot-1, 170-pound hurler as having “arguably the best control” among Rule 5-eligible pitchers.

“Nothing he throws is plus,” Baseball America wrote of Paez. “But he locates his 91-92 mph fastball, curveball, sweeper, and slider, while his mid-80s changeup is an above-average pitch with plenty of fade. …Paez could be more than a bulk-inning reliever if he gains a bit more velocity, but his control and varied arsenal give him survival skills if picked.”

Paez was one of several intriguing prospects left off Boston’s 40-man roster ahead of last month’s deadline to protect Rule 5-eligible players. The Red Sox instead elected to add lefty Shane Drohan and righties David Sandlin and Tyler Uberstine.

(Picture of Jedixson Paez: Kelly O’Connor/sittingstill.smugmug.com)

Red Sox agree to minor league deal with former Dodgers farmhand Alec Gamboa

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with free agent left-hander Alec Gamboa, as was first reported by Will Sammon of The Athletic. The deal includes an invitation to big league spring training and a salary of $925,000 if Gamboa makes it to the majors.

Gamboa, who turns 28 next month, has yet to reach the majors since being selected by the Dodgers in the ninth round of the 2019 draft out of Fresno City College. The California native spent parts of seven seasons in Los Angeles’ system, making 53 appearances (17 starts) in total for the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City before being released this past May.

After posting a 4.19 ERA (4.74 FIP) with 12 strikeouts to 12 walks in eight outings (two starts) and 19 1/3 innings for Oklahoma City in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League to begin the 2025 season, Gamboa was released on May 13 so that he could sign with the Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization. While overseas, the lefty forged a 3.58 ERA (3.47 FIP) with 117 strikeouts to 49 walks over 19 starts (108 innings) in which opponents batted .236 against him.

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Gamboa featured a five-pitch mix with Oklahoma City earlier this year that consisted of a mid-90s four-seam fastball, an upper-80s slider, a lower-90s sinker, an upper-70s curveball, and a mid-80s changeup.

Though it remains to be seen how the Red Sox will deploy Gamboa, he likely projects as a left-handed relief option who will start the 2026 campaign in Triple-A Worcester’s bullpen. Like recent trade addition Tyler Samaniego, Gamboa should provide Boston with some much-needed depth in that area following the departures of Brennan Bernardino, Chris Murphy via trade, and Steven Matz via free agency.

Unlike Samaniego, however, Gamboa will not occupy a spot on Boston’s 40-man roster once his signing is made official.

(Picture of Alec Gamboa: John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

Which prospect did Red Sox acquire from Angels for Vaughn Grissom?

The Red Sox parted ways with infielder Vaughn Grissom on Tuesday by sending him to the Angels in a minor trade.

In exchange for Grissom, Boston simultaneously opened a 40-man roster spot ahead of Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft and acquired outfield prospect Isaiah Jackson from Los Angeles.

Jackson, 21, was originally taken by the Astros in the 18th round of the 2022 draft out of Cienega High School in Arizona. Rather than enter the professional ranks at that time, though, the Vail, Ariz. native elected to honor his commitment to Arizona State. He played three seasons with the Sun Devils and batted .310/.402/.630 with 11 doubles, two triples, 18 home runs, 68 RBIs, 51 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, 28 walks, and 43 strikeouts in 60 games (251 plate appearances) as a junior this past spring en route to earning All-Big 12 First Team honors.

Coming off a standout junior season, Jackson was ranked as Baseball America’s No. 179 prospect in the 2025 draft class. This time around, the left-handed hitter was selected by the Angels in the eighth round (229th overall) of July’s draft and signed for an over-slot $297,500. He made his professional debut with Los Angeles’ High-A affiliate in early August and appeared in 10 games for the Tri-City Dust Devils, going 7-for-32 (.219) with one double, one home run, four RBIs, six runs scored, four walks, and 13 strikeouts. Defensively, he made nine starts in center field and did not commit an error in 81 innings there.

Before Tuesday’s trade, Jackson was slated to enter 2026 as Baseball America’s No. 25 Angels prospect. The publication notes that the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder is “a well-built left-handed-hitting center fielder who is a plus defender despite only average speed,” adding that “he has the bat speed to have solid power with a swing geared especially toward pullside damage, but there are some questions about how well he will hit against more advanced pitching, especially against breaking balls.”

Jackson, who turns 22 in May, becomes the latest 2025 draftee to be added by the Red Sox via trade in recent weeks, joining the likes of Luke Heyman (acquired from the Mariners) and Adonys Guzman (acquired from the Pirates). Barring another move, he appears likely to start the 2026 campaign at High-A Greenville.

(Picture of Isaiah Jackson: Kate Woolson/Texas Rangers/Getty Images)