Red Sox acquire RHP Johan Oviedo from Pirates in 5-player deal

BOSTON – The Red Sox dealt from a position of strength (the outfield) on Thursday, trading No. 3 prospect Jhostynxon Garcia to the Pirates as part of a five-player package that landed Boston a big righty in 6-foot-6, 275-pound Johan Oviedo, who has a chance to become an important part of the pitching staff.

Two Minor Leaguers -- catcher Adonys Guzman and lefty Tyler Samaniego -- are also coming to Boston. Righty Jesus Travieso will join Garcia in the move to the Pirates.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Oviedo, the Red Sox designated right-hander Cooper Criswell for assignment.

TRADE DETAILS
Red Sox receive: RHP Johan Oviedo, LHP Tyler Samaniego, C Adonys Guzman
Pirates receive: OF Jhostynxon Garcia (MLB's No. 85 prospect), RHP Jesus Travieso

In Oviedo, Boston gets a pitcher who missed the entire 2024 following Tommy John surgery, but came back to make nine starts last season, going 2-1 with a 3.57 ERA. In 40 1/3 innings, he walked 23 and struck out 42.

Prior to tearing his UCL, Oviedo took on a full starter’s load in ‘23, taking the ball 32 times and logging 177 2/3 innings in which he issued 85 walks, hit 13 batters and struck out 158.

Obviously, pounding the strike zone is something the 27-year-old needs to do more consistently.

Oviedo clearly fits the profile of the type of big, physical pitchers Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow had tried to stack his organization with over the last couple of years.

Per Statcast, Oviedo’s 7.4 foot extension last season ranked in the 98th percentile. He has a five-pitch mix, led by his four-seamer (95.5-mph average last season) and slider. Oviedo also mixes in a curveball, sinker and changeup.

At the GM Meetings, Breslow said he was more interested in acquiring front-line starting pitching than players in the 3-10 range on the depth chart. Last week, he acquired an upper-echelon starter in Sonny Gray in a trade with the Cardinals.

It could be that the Red Sox view Oviedo more as a bullpen piece. The club lacked right-handed setup depth last season.

In 14 career relief appearances, Oviedo has a 2.16 ERA and a .215 opponents batting average. He was last used in relief with the Cardinals in 2022.

In Garcia, the Red Sox are parting ways with a player known for his pop and his nickname (The Password). The right-handed hitter belted 44 homers in the Minors over the last two seasons. He made a brief cameo in the Majors in August, going 1-for-7 in five games.

Even without Garcia, Boston is overloaded in the outfield with Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Masataka Yoshida and possibly Kristian Campbell. Key platoon player Rob Refsnyder is a free agent and Garcia’s only real path to making the club in ‘26 would have been to replace Refsnyder in that role.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora expressed multiple times how impressed he was with Garcia’s defense in the outfield.

Travieso is an 18-year-old from Venezuela who got started last season in the Florida Complex League and was promoted to Low-A Salem, where he had a 3.51 ERA in seven games, including six starts.

Guzman was celebrating his 22nd birthday when the trade was made. He brings some catching depth to the lower levels of Boston’s farm system. He has just one game of professional experience.

Samaniego was a lefty the Pirates selected in the 15th round of the 2021 Draft out of South Alabama. In 127 Minor League appearances, he has a 10-8 record and 3.82 ERA. All but two of his outings have been as a reliever.

With the Winter Meetings set to begin on Monday, Breslow will be on the hunt for a power bat and perhaps another front-line starting pitcher.