Tag: 2026 season

Which prospects did Red Sox trade to Pirates for Johan Oviedo?

To acquire right-hander Johan Oviedo (and two others) from the Pirates on Thursday night, the Red Sox traded outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia and pitching prospect Jesus Travieso to Pittsburgh.

Garcia, who turns 23 next week, was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 6 prospect. Otherwise known as “The Password,” the native Venezuelan originally signed with the Red Sox for $350,000 as an international free agent in July 2019 and was added to the club’s 40-man roster last November following a breakout 2024 campaign.

This past season, Garcia represented the Red Sox at the All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta and was called up for his major league debut in late August. The right-handed hitting slugger did not get much of a chance to put his power on display, as he went just 1-for-7 (.143) with one double, two walks, and five strikeouts in a brief five-game cameo before being sent back down on August 29. He made two starts in right field and one start in left field.

Between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, however, Garcia batted .267/.340/.470 with 17 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 75 RBIs, 79 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 45 walks, and 131 strikeouts over 114 games (434 plate appearances) in 2025. He led the organization in homers for a second straight season to earn Red Sox Minor League Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Though he is brimming with potential on both sides of the ball, Garcia did not have a clear path to playing time with the Red Sox, as he was behind the likes of Wilyer Abreu, Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, and Ceddanne Rafaela on the club’s outfield depth chart. Barring another move, he should have more of an opportunity with the Pirates in 2026 and will presumably compete for a spot on Pittsburgh’s Opening Day roster when spring training begins.

Like Garcia, Travieso also hails from Venezuela. The 18-year-old right-hander was ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 16 prospect and originally signed with the Red Sox for just $10,000 as an international free agent last January. He made his stateside debut this past season after spending all of 2024 in the Dominican Summer League.

In 19 total outings (16 starts) between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem, Travieso posted a 3.06 ERA with 90 strikeouts to 36 walks over 64 2/3 innings in which opponents batted .236 against him. Undersized at 5-foot-11, Travieso is equipped with a live arm and features a 94-96 mph fastball that can reach 100 mph, an 84-86 mph slider, and a changeup.

Travieso, who turns 19 in March, has starter upside but may be better suited for a relief role in the long run, given his frame and below-average command. Regardless, he seems likely to open the 2026 season with either Pittsburgh’s Low-A or High-A affiliate.

(Picture of Jhostynxon Garcia: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Which pitching prospect did Red Sox trade to Cardinals for Sonny Gray?

The Red Sox swung a significant trade with the Cardinals on Tuesday, acquiring veteran starter Sonny Gray and cash considerations for right-hander Richard Fitts, minor league left-hander Brandon Clarke, and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

This article will focus on Clarke, who was ranked by MLB Pipeline as Boston’s No. 5 prospect and is now the No. 7 prospect in St. Louis’ farm system.

Clarke was selected by the Red Sox in the fifth round (148th overall) of the 2024 draft out of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. The Virginia native had been committed to transferring to South Carolina for his senior season before signing with Boston for an under-slot $400,000 last July.

Clarke did not make his professional debut until he broke camp with Low-A Salem to begin the 2025 campaign. On the heels of an eye-opening spring training, the 22-year-old lefty dominated Carolina League hitters to the tune of a 0.93 ERA (0.98 FIP) with 17 strikeouts to just two walks in three starts (9 2/3 innings). He was then rewarded with a promotion to High-A Greenville in late April.

Upon making the jump to the hitter-friendly South Atlantic League, Clarke saw his stock rise even further as he vaulted into the back end of Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects list for a brief period. After tossing 4 2/3 scoreless innings against Bowling Green on May 24, however, Clarke was sidelined for the next month-plus with a blister caused by a hangnail.

Clarke returned to the mound in late June but struggled for the most part over the summer before being shut down again in August due to a recurrence of blisters. He ended the season on Greenville’s injured list, having posted a 5.08 ERA (4.17 FIP) with 43 strikeouts to 25 walks in 11 starts (28 1/3 innings) for the Drive.

Overall, Clarke forged a 4.03 ERA (3.36 FIP) with 60 strikeouts to 27 walks over 14 total starts (38 innings) between Salem and Greenville in 2025. Opposing hitters batted just .128 against him altogether, though struggles with command and control (as indicated by his 15.5 percent walk rate) generated concerns about his outlook moving forward.

Even with those concerns, there is no doubting the potency of Clarke’s stuff. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound southpaw primarily operates with an upper-90s fastball (both two- and four-seam) that can reach triple-digits, an 87-90 mph slider, an 81-85 mph sweeper, and an 87-89 mph changup.

“In terms of pure talent, what’s coming out of his hand and the [arm] extension he gets, it’s right up there with anybody in the minor leagues,” Cardinals president of baseball operations (and former Red Sox chief baseball officer) Chaim Bloom said of Clarke. “You really could put him on that short list of highest talent/most upside in the minor leagues.”

Clarke, who turns 23 in April, seems likely to open the 2026 season with the Cardinals’ High-A affiliate in Peoria, Ill. If he can stay healthy and further harness his command and control, he has tremendous upside as a starter. If not, he still projects as a reliever at the big league level in the long term.

(Picture of Sonny Gray: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Red Sox sign former Athletics, Cardinals farmhand Osvaldo Berrios to minor league deal

The Red Sox signed free agent right-hander Osvaldo Berrios to a minor league contract on Monday, as was first reported by Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com. It is unclear if the deal includes an invitation to major league spring training.

Berrios, who turns 26 later this month, has yet to make his big league debut and was originally selected by the Athletics in the 20th round of the 2017 draft out of Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. The Caguas native spent the first seven seasons of his professional career in Oakland’s system, though he did not pitch in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic or in 2023 due to injury.

After reaching free agency for the first time in November 2023, Berrios signed on with the Gateway Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League for the start of the 2024 campaign. His contract, however, was later purchased by the Cardinals last June, and he spent the better part of the previous two seasons working his way up St. Louis’ organizational pipeline.

Berrios opened the 2025 season at Double-A Springfield, pitching to a 3.74 ERA (4.14 FIP) with 48 strikeouts to 15 walks over 28 outings (four starts) spanning 43 1/3 innings (in which opponents batted .212 against him) before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Memphis in early August. He then struggled to a 9.20 ERA (7.86 FIP) with 14 strikeouts to nine walks in 12 relief appearances (14 2/3 innings) for the Redbirds.

Altogether, Berrios forged a 5.12 ERA (5.08 FIP) with 62 strikeouts to 24 walks in 40 total appearances (four starts) and 58 total innings between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound righty’s arsenal includes a 91-94 mph fastball, a 76-78 mph curveball, an 82-84 mph changeup, and an 81-85 mph slider.

Assuming he does not get taken in either phase of next month’s Rule 5 Draft, Berrios is a candidate to open the 2026 season in Triple-A Worcester’s bullpen. In the meantime, Berrios is pitching for the Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rican Winter League. Entering play on Thursday, he has yet to allow a run through four relief appearances and five innings of work.

(Picture of Osvaldo Berrios: Jared Blais/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Who did Red Sox acquire from Rockies for Brennan Bernardino?

As part of a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday, the Red Sox acquired three minor leaguers in three separate trades with the White Sox, Rockies, and Mariners.

This article will focus on Boston acquiring 26-year-old infield/outfielder Braiden Ward from Colorado for left-hander Brennan Bernardino.

Ward, who turns 27 in January, spent the first five seasons of his professional career in the Rockies organization after originally being selected in the 16th round of the 2021 draft out of the University of Washington. The California native received a $125,000 signing bonus and made his professional debut in the Arizona Complex League that August.

From there, Ward steadily climbed Colorado’s organizational ladder without ever being viewed as a top prospect. The left-handed hitting speedster opened the 2025 campaign at Double-A Hartford, batting .259/.360/.330 with 10 doubles, one home run, 16 RBIs, 29 runs scored, 22 stolen bases, 19 walks, and 38 strikeouts in 53 games (205 plate appearances) before receiving a promotion to Triple-A Albuquerque in early July. He then slashed .331/.440/.466 with seven doubles, four triples, one home run, 21 RBIs, 45 runs scored, 35 stolen bases, 16 walks, and 23 strikeouts over 44 games (163 plate appearances) in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Altogether, Ward batted .290/.395/.391 with 17 doubles, four triples, two home runs, 37 RBIs, 74 runs scored, an organizational-leading 57 stolen bases, 35 walks, and 61 strikeouts across 97 total games (368 plate appearances) between Double-A and Triple-A this year. That includes a .353/.421/.373 line against lefties and a .277/.390/.395 line against righties.

On the other side of the ball, Ward saw playing time at four different positions between his stops in Hartford and Albuquerque this season. The versatile 5-foot-9, 160-pounder logged 359 2/3 innings in center field, 302 innings in left field, 52 innings at second base, and 22 innings at third base. He also made one start at DH and has prior experience in right field.

Assuming he does not get taken in December’s Rule 5 Draft, Ward figures to provide the Red Sox with important upper-minors depth at Triple-A Worcester to open the 2026 season. It would not be at all surprising if he were called up for his big league debut at some point next year, given his speed and ability to play multiple positions.

(Picture of Brennan Bernardino: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Which prospect did Red Sox acquire from White Sox for Chris Murphy?

As part of a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday, the Red Sox acquired three minor leaguers in three separate trades with the White Sox, Rockies, and Mariners.

This article will focus on Boston acquiring catching prospect Ronny Hernandez from Chicago for left-hander Chris Murphy.

Hernandez, who turned 21 earlier this month, spent the first four seasons of his professional career in the White Sox organization after originally signing with the club as an international free agent coming out of Venezuela in June 2022. The Turmero native made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League shortly thereafter, then followed that up by earning Arizona Complex League All-Star honors in 2023.

After impressing in rookie ball, Hernandez made the jump to Low-A Kannapolis in 2024 and repeated the level in 2025. In 82 games for the Cannon Ballers this season, the left-handed hitter batted .251/.344/.366 with 12 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 34 RBIs, 33 runs scored, four stolen bases, 45 walks, and 75 strikeouts over 355 plate appearances. That includes a .161/.242/.196 line against lefties and a .271/.365/.467 line against righties.

On the other side of the ball, Hernandez made a team-high 64 starts at catcher for Kannapolis this year. In the process of logging 550 innings behind the plate, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound backstop committed 10 errors and allowed four passed balls while throwing out 37 of 152 possible base stealers. He also made 18 starts at DH.

Hernandez was not ranked among the White Sox’ top 30 prospects by publications such as Baseball America or MLB Pipeline, but should nonetheless provide the Red Sox with much-needed catching depth in the lower minors. He is a candidate to open the 2026 campaign with High-A Greenville and can become eligible for the Rule 5 Draft for the first time at season’s end.

(Picture of Chris Murphy: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox re-sign LHP prospect Michael Sansone to minor league contract

In addition to Eduardo Rivera and Reidis Sena, the Red Sox have re-signed left-hander Michael Sansone to a minor league contract, according to Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com.

Like Rivera and Sena, Sansone was slated to reach free agency next month but is now in line to return to the Red Sox organization in 2026. The soon-to-be 26-year-old is not currently ranked among the system’s top pitching prospects.

A Connecticut native, Sansone went undrafted as a senior coming out of Fairfield in 2022 and signed his first professional contract with the Rays that summer. He spent part of the next two seasons in Tampa Bay’s farm system before being released in July 2023.

Last March, Sansone signed with the Yolo High Wheelers of the independent Pioneer League, only for his contract to be purchased by the Red Sox a few weeks later. The lefty then spent all of 2024 with Low-A Salem, compiling a 3.11 ERA (3.25 FIP) with 68 strikeouts to nine walks over 20 appearances (three starts) spanning 72 1/3 innings.

Sansone returned to Salem for the start of the 2025 season and put up a 2.75 ERA (2.81 FIP) with 22 strikeouts to one walk in 10 relief appearances (19 2/3 innings) before being promoted to High-A Greenville in late May. In 16 outings (seven starts) for the Drive, he posted a 3.84 ERA (4.18 FIP) with 50 strikeouts to 13 walks over 65 2/3 innings. He received another promotion to Double-A Portland on September 9 and made the most of his lone outing for the Sea Dogs five days later by striking out a pair in three scoreless, one-hit frames of relief.

Though Sansone was elevated yet again to Triple-A Worcester on September 16, he was subsequently placed on the development list to end his season. So, altogether, he forged a 3.46 ERA (3.80 FIP) with 74 strikeouts to 14 walks across 27 appearances (seven starts) totaling 88 1/3 innings between Salem, Greenville, and Portland in 2025. Opposing hitters batted .249 against him.

Among the 14 Red Sox minor leaguers who, regardless of level, threw at least 85 innings this year, Sansone notably ranked second in walks per nine innings (1.43) and walk rate (3.9 percent), fifth in swinging-strike rate (13.8 percent) and WHIP (1.11), and seventh in ERA (3.46), per FanGraphs.

Standing at 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, Sansone throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates some deception into his repeatable delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the compact southpaw features an 86-88 mph fastball while also mixing in a 75-78 mph changeup, an 81-83 mph slider, and a 74-76 mph curveball.

Assuming his name does not come up in either phase of December’s Rule 5 Draft or any other transaction this winter, Sansone is projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Portland as a member of the Sea Dogs’ bullpen to begin the 2026 campaign.

(Picture of Michael Sansone: Gwinn Davis/Greenville Drive)

Red Sox re-sign RHP prospect Reidis Sena to minor league contract

In addition to left-hander Eduardo Rivera, the Red Sox have re-signed right-hander Reidis Sena to a minor-league contract, according to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo.

Like Rivera, Sena was slated to become a free agent next month but is now in line to return to the only organization he has ever known in 2026. The 24-year-old Dominican native originally signed with the Red Sox for just $10,000 as an international free agent in December 2018. He is not currently ranked among the system’s top pitching prospects.

A member of Boston’s 2025 Spring Breakout roster to begin the year, Sena broke camp with Double-A Portland in April. The righty posted a 4.13 ERA (3.29 FIP) with 30 strikeouts to 19 walks through his first 15 outings (one start) and 24 innings for the Sea Dogs before landing on the injured list with a shoulder impingement in late June.

Upon returning to the mound in early August, Sena closed out the season by compiling a 2.55 ERA (3.74 FIP) with 19 strikeouts to 11 walks in 10 more appearances (one start) and 17 2/3 innings. Altogether, he forged a 3.46 ERA (3.48 FIP) with 49 strikeouts to 30 walks across 25 outings (two starts) spanning 41 2/3 innings for Portland in 2025. He converted six of his eight save opportunities while opposing hitters in the Eastern League batted just .186 against him.

Among the 144 pitchers who threw at least 40 innings in the Eastern League this year, Sena ranked sixth in groundball rate (54.7 percent), 14th in batting average against, 31st in strikeouts per nine innings (10.58), 34th in strikeout rate (27.4 percent), 38th in swinging-strike rate (13.6 percent), 58th in FIP, 59th in ERA, and 71st in xFIP (3.81). On the flip side, however, he also ranked 140th in walks per nine innings (6.48) and 141st in walk rate (16.8 percent), per FanGraphs.

Presumably larger than his listed height and weight of 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, Sena throws from a vertical arm slot and incorporates a medium leg kick into his delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the undersized hurler features a 94-96 mph fastball that can reach 98 mph and complements it with a 90-92 mph cutter, 85-87 mph curveball, and 89-92 mph changeup.

Sena, who turns 25 in April, is Rule 5 Draft-eligible this offseason but is unlikely to be added to Boston’s 40-man roster ahead of the November 18 protection deadline. Assuming that happens and he does not get picked in the Rule 5 Draft itself in December, Sena is projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Portland’s bullpen for the start of the 2026 campaign.

In the meantime, Sena was assigned to the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Winter League on October 15 but has yet to appear in a game for the club.

(Picture of Reidis Sena: Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Red Sox re-sign LHP prospect Eduardo Rivera to minor league contract

The Red Sox have re-signed left-hander Eduardo Rivera to a minor league contract, according to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe.

Rivera was slated to reach free agency next month, but is now tentatively in line to return to the organization he has spent the better part of the last two seasons with. The 22-year-old is currently regarded by SoxProspects.com as Boston’s No. 43 prospect, which ranks 25th among pitchers in the system.

Originally selected by the Athletics in the 11th round of the 2021 draft out of Colegio Cadest in Puerto Rico, Rivera joined the Red Sox as a minor league free agent shortly after being released by the A’s last May. The San Juan native split the remainder of the 2024 season between the Florida Complex League and Low-A Salem, then returned home to dominate for the Cangrejeros de Santurce and Indios de Mayaguez of the Puerto Rican Winter League.

After pitching for Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series in February, Rivera understandably did not see much action in his first spring training with the Red Sox before breaking camp with High-A Greenville. Though he did not make his season debut until April 16, Rivera impressed to the tune of a 1.61 ERA (2.21 FIP) with 68 strikeouts to 16 walks in 10 outings (six starts) spanning 44 2/3 innings for the Drive. Opposing hitters in the South Atlantic League batted just .138 against him.

Alongside fellow lefty Payton Tolle, Rivera was promoted to Double-A Portland in late June. While Tolle was in the process of being fast-tracked to the major leagues, Rivera experienced some growing pains with the Sea Dogs. In 10 appearances (nine starts) for Boston’s Eastern League affiliate, he posted a 3.40 ERA (4.28 FIP) with 40 strikeouts to 30 walks over 42 1/3 innings in which opponents batted .214 against him. He ended the season on a high note by fanning seven and walking only one across six scoreless, one-hit frames against Binghamton on September 9.

Overall, Rivera finished the 2025 campaign having forged a 2.48 ERA (3.22 FIP) with 108 strikeouts to 46 walks in 20 appearances (15 starts) totaling 87 innings between Greenville and Portland. Among the 14 Red Sox minor leaguers who threw at least 85 innings this year, regardless of level, Rivera ranked first in groundball rate (54.5 percent), second in batting average against (.177), ERA, and swinging-strike rate (15 percent), third in strikeouts per nine innings (11.17), fourth in FIP and strikeout rate (29.7 percent), fifth in xFIP (3.33), and seventh in WHIP (1.16), per FanGraphs.

Listed at a physically imposing 6-foot-7 and 237 pounds, Rivera throws from a three-quarters arm slot and incorporates a very high leg kick into his delivery. As noted in his SoxProspects.com scouting report, the burly southpaw primarily operates with a five-pitch mix that consists of a 93-97 mph fastball that can reach 98 mph, an 87-89 mph cutter, an 83-86 mph slider, an 85-89 mph changeup, and a 78-80 mph curveball.

Even though Rivera is back with the Red Sox on a minor league contract, his status for next season is still technically up in the air since he is Rule 5-eligible this winter. In other words, Rivera could be taken by another club in December’s Rule 5 Draft if he is not added to Boston’s 40-man roster by the November protection deadline.

Given his past struggles with command and control, however, Rivera could very well be left unprotected by the Red Sox and then go unselected in the Rule 5 Draft. If that does turn out to be the case and he remains in the organization through the offseason, Rivera — who does not turn 23 until next June — is projected by SoxProspects.com to return to Portland in 2026.

(Picture of Eduardo Rivera: Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images)