Sox Trade Perales to Washington (12/15/25)

The Boston Red Sox made an interesting roster move today. The Sox traded 22 year old right handed pitcher Luis Perales to the Washington Nationals for 25 year old left handed pitcher Jake Bennett.

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So who did the Sox give up? Perales was the number 7 ranked prospect in the system that can hit 100 on the gun. He was a 16 year old Venezuelan teenager signed back in 2019 and was having a hell of a 2024 season between the Greenville Drive and Portland Sea Dogs. He was 1-0 with 1.23 ERA when he had Tommy John surgery in June of 2024. He pitched in just 3 games and 2 1/3 innings at the end of the 2025 season. He was projected to be a serious rotation contender by 2027 but now he's off to Washington to be their number 11th ranked pitcher.

                                                              22 year old that can hit 100

So who did they get? Jake Bennett was Washington's second round pick back in 2022 four picks after the Red Sox took Cutter Coffey. He was 10-4 for Oklahoma University in 2022 and had lit up the Fredricksburg Nationals in 2023. He was promoted to the Wilmington Blue Rocks but was 0-3 and had Tommy John surgery. He bounced back in 2025 going 1-2 with a 1.90 ERA in 7 starts for Wilmington before going 1-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 9 starts with the Harrisburg Senators. Allowing just 19 runs in 69 innings is pretty good.

                                                            Had a great 2025

So why make this trade? The overall consensus is Bennett is more close to the majors than Perales is. Perales is definitely an intriguing prospect since he can throw gas at 22 years old. Problem is will his arm hold up in the long run? Bennett tops out at 96 but has a devastating changeup. Not that Perales is short at 6 foot 1, but Bennett is 6 foot 6. Durability is the question, even Pedro Martinez broke down after years of throwing straight gas. Still, Bennett can start the year in Portland or Worcester and if he begins to dominate, he could be trade bait or might actually pitch in Boston. The Sox have too many number 3 starters, someone has to go. If Breslow is looking for his second straight winter blockbuster, Bennett could either be included in the deal or replace someone else who is. The Sox still haven't signed Alex Bregman or replaced Rafael Devers so it might not matter anyway.

2025 Rule 5 Draft Results (12/10/25)

Today the Rule 5 draft took place and while nothing happened in the Major League phase, the Boston Red Sox bid goodbye to some of their prospects while welcoming in new ones in the Minor League phase.The Texas Rangers scooped up right handed pitcher Jonathan Brand, the Tampa Bay Rays took right handed pitcher Alvaro Mejias, the Los Angeles Angels selected right handed pitcher Eybersson Polanco, the Chicago White Sox picked right handed pitcher Jedixson Paez and the Sox traded outfield prospect Justin Reimer to the Oakland A's for 28 year old relief pitcher Ryan Watson. The Sox themselves took 22 year old pitcher Caden Vire from the Milwaukee Brewers, 29 year old third baseman Matt Lloyd from the St. Louis Cardinals and 23 year old catcher Raudelis Martinez from the Tampa Bay Rays.

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So who did the Sox lose? Jonathan Brand was an 8th round pick in the 2022 draft out of Miami Ohio University who finished 2023 strong with the Salem Red Sox but didn't progress much after. In 2024 he was 2-3 with a 4.67 ERA and was 1-3 with a 3.48 ERA in 2025 for the Portland Sea Dogs. He allowed 4 runs without giving up an out for the Worcester Red Sox in his only game there. In February he'll be 26 years old and being above average in AA isn't going to cut it. Maybe the Texas Rangers can teach him something the Sox couldn't.

Alvaro Mejias was one of the Dominican Red Sox' best pitchers in 2022 going 1-1 with a 1.23 ERA in 8 starts but pitched in exactly one game the next three years. He turned 22 in September and hasn't pitched in exactly 17 games since 2021. This is a big crapshot by Tampa Bay Rays but they're a pitching factory. He'll probably be in the majors by 2028.

Eybersson Polanco came off Tommy John surgery to post a 4-5 record with a 5.23 ERA out of the bullpen for the Salem Red Sox in 2025. Just like Mejias, the Angels are banking on his arm being sound for 2026. With the influx of pitchers drafted by Breslow, Polanco became expendable. Good luck in Los Angeles.

The most well known name was Jedixson Paez as he was a 2021 Dominican grad. He was 5-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 2023 and went 5-4 with a respectable ERA in 2024 between Salem and the Greenville Drive. In 2025 he was 0-3 with a 2.79 ERA in 7 starts for Greenville. Just like Polanco, with the influx of pitchers coming in, Paez was expendable. He might pitch well in the Chicago White Sox system.

Justin Reimer was a 4th round pick back in 2023 for the Red Sox and hit .240 with 3 home runs for Greenville in 2024. This past season he hit .232 with home run in 76 games with Greenville before earning a call up to the Portland Sea Dogs. He went 4 for 18 in 6 games with Portland to end the season. He's clearly not a power hitter and might be destined to be a utility infielder. Hey, those guys need love too.

Now who did the Sox gain? Ryan Watson is a career minor leaguer that recently posted a 4-3 record with a 4.26 ERA for the Sacramento River Cats. Still, his numbers may be below average to mediocre, but keep in mind he was 39th round pick back in 2016. In comparison, the Red Sox took Jake Wilson with their 39th round pick and he shills golf equipment these days. If anything he'll be a veteran pitcher with the Worcester Red Sox to start 2025 if he's not cut in Spring Training.

Matthew Lloyd was a 15th round pick in 2019 by the Cincinnati Reds and he spent 2025 between AA and AAA. He did hit .272 with 8 home runs for the Memphis Redbirds but didn't get a call up to the St. Louis Cardinals. Kudos to him for hanging around, the Sox 15th round pick back in 2019, Aaron Roberts is playing for San Francisco State this season....6 years later. Maybe the Sox could sign HIM too.

The now 23 year old Raudelis Martinez defected from Cuba and signed with the Tampa Bay Rays prior to the 2021 season. He spent 2025 with the Bowling Green Hot Rods where he hit .239 with 4 home runs. Not exactly a big bopper but you're not going to get an all-star in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft. You always need catching depth so let's see what he brings to the Portland Sea Dogs in 2026.

The 22 year old Caden Vire was drafted in the 12th round back in 2021 by the Milwaukee Brewers 11 picks after the Red Sox chose pitcher Christopher Troye. Quite frankly he's been completely horrible. He's pitched in 22 games since 2021 and has allowed 42 runs in 27 innings, 34 of them in rookie ball. Someone needs to remove the booze from the Red Sox scouting department if they see a guy who can't get anyone out in rookie ball and say "Ooooh we need that guy!"

Bottom line is apart from Paez, the Sox didn't exactly get raided. Apart from Watson and possibly Martinez, they didn't gain anything of worth also. Still, you never know. We might see Watson get a cup of coffee call up this year....god help us if that happens.

Sox Trade Grissom to Angels (12/9/25)

In the annals of time, the Chris Sale for Vaughn Grissom trade will go down as one of the most lopsided in history. After 5 straight disappointing seasons, the Sox sent Sale to the Atlanta Braves for budding infielder Vaughn Grissom. Sale turned his career around to win the NL Cy Young Award in 2024 and looked on his way to a repeat before a broken rib ended his season in 2025. Grissom's career completely evaporated, leading to his trade today to the Los Angeles Angels for 2025 8th round draft pick, 21 year old outfielding prospect Isaiah Jackson.

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Grissom looked like a budding star with the Atlanta Braves as a 21 year old in 2022 and 2023 despite injuries. He hit .291 with 5 home runs in 41 games in 2022 but injuries derailed him in 2023 despite hitting .280 with 9 rbis in 23 games. In 2024 his career went down the toilet as he battled injuries all season batting just .190 with no home runs. In 2025 he hit 13 home runs and batted .270...for the Worcester Red Sox. The trade of Rafael Devers and the incompetence of Kristian Campbell wasn't enough for Grissom to earn one call up during the 2025 season. With Campbell expected to earn a second chance and Ceddanne Rafaela another possible candidate at second base next season, the guy traded for Chris Sale became expendable. What a waste.

                                    Traded Chris Sale for an above average AAA player

So who did the Sox get in return? Isaiah Jackson was taken in the 8th round of this past MLB draft 9 picks before the Sox took pitcher Dylan Brown. He hit .310 with 18 home runs for Arizona State before getting taken by the Angels and he hit .219 with 1 home run in 32 games with the Tri City Dust Devils. After the Sox traded James "Leroy Jethro" Tibbs to the Dodgers for Dustin May (another wasted trade), the Sox needed more outfield help in the minors. Jackson might be that guy when he makes his 2026 debut with the Salem Ridge Yaks. Still, the Sox essentially traded Chris Sale for 31 games of Vaughn Grissom and an 8th round pick in the 2025 draft. God help us.

                                                    "Jokes on you, Boston" - Chris Sale

Sox Trade Password & Travieso To Pirates (12/4/25)

For the second time in two weeks the Boston Red Sox traded futures for pitching depth. The Sox traded 22 year old outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia and 18 year old flamethrower Jesus Travieso to the Pittsburgh Pirates for 27 year old reclamation project Johan Oviedo, 26 year old relief pitcher Tyler Samaniego and 22 year old (happy birthday by the way) catching prospect Adonys Guzman. To make room on the 40 man roster for Oviedo, Cooper Criswell was designated for assignment.

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So who did the Red Sox give up? Travieso is an 18 year old Dominican kid signed last January that can hit 100 on the gun. He was 2-0 with a 3.51 ERA in 6 starts with the Salem Red So....Ridge Yaks (really?) to end the season. 

As we all know, Garcia was nicknamed The Password and he blew the ranks this past season. He started the season with the Portland Sea Dogs before being called up to the Worcester Red Sox. Then mainly due to injuries and an anemic offense, he made his ML debut on August 22nd. He was just 1 for 7 in 5 games but having a 22 (23 next week) year old outfield prospect ON TOP of Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony was a good trade chip.

Unfortunately they wasted that chip on Johan Oviedo. Oviedo was perfectly mediocre in 2023 going 9-14 with a 4.31 ERA in 32 starts....then had Tommy John surgery and missed the 2024 season. He finished 2-1 with a 3.57 ERA down the stretch in 9 starts for the Pirates so it looks like he's healthy again. Problem is, he'll be 28 years old on Opening Day and at best he's a number 3 starter like Brayan Bello. If this is the Sox answer at #2 they're rolling a D20 and expecting a 20.

Tyler Samaniego is a 26 year old Double A reliever who posted a 3.08 ERA in Altoona this year and 3.57 last year. Funny thing he was chosen with the 1st pick of the 15th round back in 2021 3 slots before the Sox took Peyton Green. If this guy isn't in AAA by 26 and Connelly Early is pitching in the MLB playoffs at 23, that's a bad sign.

Rounding out the trio is the birthday boy, now 22 year old catcher Adonys Guzman. He was chosen in the 5th round in this past draft out of Arizona University 4 slots before the Sox took Christian Foutch. Guzman played in just 1 game for the Bradenton Maurauders and is touted as a defensive first catcher.

All in all this looks like a bad trade if you're the Red Sox. The Password is not a guy you trade for a reclamation project. They already have Patrick Sandoval coming off TJ surgery, why did you trade for another injury risk? The rumor is they got the pitching depth for a future trade coming up. It makes sense as the Sox have five outfielders and only need three. Jarred Duran is as good as gone so if the Sox are still wheeling and dealing to get their number 2 starter, who knows what will happen next. Going into the season with 5 outfielders and a bunch of number 3 starters isn't ideal. If all this leads to Tarik Skubal, its all good.