TRADE: Red Sox Acquire Starting Pitcher From Pirates
The Boston Red Sox have dipped back into the trade market, landing right-hander Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a five-player swap that sends top outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia the other way.
Boston also picks up lefty reliever Tyler Samaniego and catching prospect Adonys Guzman, while Pittsburgh rounds out its return with pitching prospect Jesus Travieso.
It's the second big rotation move of the winter for Boston after adding Sonny Gray, and this one comes with more risk and more upside than a typical back-end arm.
Oviedo Gives Red Sox Another High-Upside Arm
After Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2024 season and a lat strain delayed his 2025 debut, Oviedo returned to post a 3.57 ERA over nine starts, striking out 42 in 40.1 innings.
The stuff backed it up, with a mid-90s fastball, a plus slider and a curveball that all produced strong expected results, helped by elite extension that lets his velocity play even harder. The concern is control, since he walked batters at a 13.5 percent clip after already living in double-digit walk-rate territory before surgery.
Trade news: The Boston Red Sox are acquiring right-hander Johan Oviedo in a deal that will send outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia back to Pittsburgh, sources tell ESPN. In total, it's a five-player trade.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 5, 2025
Oviedo gives them a cost-controlled starter with mid-rotation upside who should not strain the payroll, with arbitration projections sitting in a modest range for 2026. If he throws enough strikes, he fits nicely behind Gray and the rest of the group and gives Craig Breslow another data lab project with frontline traits.
If the walks remain an issue or left-handed hitters adjust over a full season, he still profiles as valuable rotation depth or a multi-inning weapon.
Pirates Bet On Jhostynxon Garcia And Future Value
From the Pirates’ perspective, Garcia is the headliner and fits their timeline. The young outfielder just put up 21 home runs and 75 RBI across two minor league levels.
Travieso adds another intriguing arm after striking out more than a batter per inning in the lower minors, giving Pittsburgh another lottery ticket for its next wave of pitching.
The Red Sox get Johan Oviedo in a five-player deal that sends "The Password" Jhostynxon Garcia to the Pirates pic.twitter.com/Hijgi9OCoR
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) December 5, 2025
Boston, meanwhile, dealt from a perceived outfield surplus to chase immediate rotation help, accepting the risk that Garcia breaks out in Pittsburgh in exchange for two years of Oviedo and extra pitching depth.
With Samaniego close to the majors and Guzman joining a growing group of catching prospects, this is the kind of trade that could look very different in three years, but for now it is all about the Red Sox trying to win more games in 2026 and the Pirates leaning into their longer view.
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