The Purple Sox simply additional bolstered their beginning pitching depth with the acquisition of Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jeff Passan had the information earlier this night:
One of many first belongings you’ll discover about Oviedo is his measurement. At 6′6″ and 275 kilos, he immediately turns into the most important participant on the workforce, clocking in as tall, however even heavier than Garrett Crochet and Payton Tolle.
For those who’re not accustomed to Oviedo, which may be as a result of he’s solely began 9 video games over the past two seasons. He had Tommy John in December 2023, after which had a proper lat pressure this spring that stored him out till August. Upon return, he made 9 begins and posted a 3.57 ERA.
The overall e book on Oviedo is he has a great fastball and nice extension, however management points have stored him from going to the following stage. In his final full season of baseball in 2023, he led all of MLB in hit batters with 13.
So the query now in fact is can the Purple Sox repair the command points? Effectively, at the least one in every of our authors right here at Over The Monster appears to assume it’s attainable. The primary three phrases despatched from Jacob Roy in our Slack room after listening to of the commerce have been “That is superior.” So keep tuned for extra of his ideas within the subsequent handful of days.
Now whereas followers will in all probability like Oviedo due to his upside, John Henry will in all probability like him as a result of he’s low cost. Oviedo made simply $850,000 final season because the Tommy John delayed any form of wage bump in arbitration, and he nonetheless has two years of management left (by means of the tip of the 2027 season). An ideal potential addition to the rotation for his checking account!
It’s additionally price noting that Oviedo solely additional bolsters the beginning pitching depth, which was already additional solidified with the trade for Sonny Gray last week. The nice factor for narrative pushers is that this transfer will solely bolster whichever facet of the No. 2 starter debate you’d wish to push. For those who don’t assume the Sox are getting a legit No. 2 starter this winter, this further depth acquired clearly factors to that. However in case you do assume they’re getting a No. 2 starter, the additional pitching depth clearly permits them to commerce a few of it and find yourself with extra high quality as a substitute of amount in the long run. So it is a actually an enormous win for everyone!
Along with Oviedo, the Purple Sox can even be getting catcher Adonys Guzman and Tyler Samaniego. Guzman was simply drafted within the fifth spherical final June and solely has 5 minor league at bats, so it’s too early to inform what he’ll grow to be. One factor we do know nevertheless is he turned 22 right this moment, so Completely happy Birthday to him!
Samaniego in the meantime, a left-handed reliever, was already on the 40-man roster for Pittsburgh, which created a domino impact and meant the Red Sox had to DFA Cooper Criswell to make room. There’s nonetheless an opportunity Criswell might fall by means of and discover his was again to Worcester as soon as once more if no different workforce recordsdata a declare.
Headed additional west on the Mass Pike although shall be Jhostynxon Garcia (The Password) and Jesus Travieso from A-ball. Garcia’s departure appears very acceptable with the present outfield logjam. And contemplating that logjam may solely worsen if Kristian Campbell finally ends up higher suited there as a substitute of within the infield, there’s simply no means the person generally known as The Password was going to unlock many at bats from the outfield this season.
Curiously sufficient, this additionally marks the third time Craig Breslow has despatched a bat to Pittsburgh in change for a pitcher. The opposite current examples each got here in 2024 when they acquired Quinn Priester for Nick Yorke in July, after which swapped Enmanuel Valdez for Joe Vogatsky in December.
