Cardinals acquire left-hander Eduardo Rivera in trade with Red Sox
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The St. Louis Cardinals announced on Tuesday that they have acquired left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rivera from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for minor league pitcher Juan Carlos García.
Rivera, 23, is a 6-foot-7, 237-pound southpaw from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Originally an 11th round selection by the Oakland Athletics in the 2021 MLB Draft out of C.A.D.E.S.T. (Colegio Acelerado de Educacion Secundaria y Tecnica) in Carolina, Puerto Rico, Rivera made his Major League debut at Fenway Park in Boston on April 22, 2026 against the New York Yankees.
Rivera began his Major League career with 7.0 scoreless innings over his first two appearances and did not allow a hit to a left-handed batter until his fourth MLB appearance, a single to Dylan Beavers of the Orioles. Rivera stymied opposing left-handed batters, allowing just one hit in 15 at-bats (.067 BA) with Boston and has not allowed a home run in his minor league career while facing a total of 355 left-handed batters.
Over his four Major League appearances in 2026, including three starts, Rivera was 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA averaging a strikeout per inning over 10.0 innings pitched. In 26 minor league appearances and five starts between Portland (AA) and Worcester (AAA) in 2026, Rivera was 7-2 with a 2.59 ERA, striking out 71 over 55.2 innings.
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Rivera began his professional career as an 18-year-old in the Athletics’ Arizona Complex League and moved up to High-A Lansing before he was acquired by the Red Sox as a minor league free agent in June 2024. Rivera ascended through the Red Sox organization making 32 appearances, starting 22 games over the next 22 months culminating in his MLB debut in 2026.
Entering the 2026 season, Rivera was ranked as the No. 18 prospect in the Red Sox organization by MLB.com. Over 267.2 minor league innings, Rivera has averaged 11 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched.
García, an 18-year-old right hander out of Montemorelos, Mexico, pitched the last two seasons for the Dominican Summer League Cardinals, going 6-6 with a 3.87 ERA in 23 games.