The Red Sox pulled off a notable trade on Thursday, centering around Johan Oviedo. ESPN’s Jeff Passan broke the news that Boston acquired Oviedo, left-hander Tyler Samaniego, and catcher Adonys Guzman from the Pittsburgh Pirates, in exchange for outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia and right-hander Jesus Travieso in a multi-player deal.
Oviedo stands as the headline piece, with many observers expecting him to compete for a spot in the middle of Boston’s rotation next season. But what about the two additional prospects who joined the package from Pittsburgh?
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow weighed in on both players in a Friday interview with MassLive’s Chris Cotillo.
“Samaniego is someone we believe can contribute in the near term,” Breslow said. “He brings a diverse mix of pitches that plays well against left-handed hitters and has a fastball that should hold up against righties. The underlying stuff and performance are solid, and we’re excited about his continued development.”
“Guzman is a player we liked from the amateur ranks, with a strong defensive profile, good swing decisions, and solid bat-to-ball skills. He’s someone we think can thrive within our development system.”
Samaniego, 26, has logged a 3.82 ERA across five minor league seasons from Low-A to Double-A, fanning 182 batters in that span. Guzman, 22, starred at both Arizona and Boston College, posting a .294/.396/.409 line with 10 homers and 68 RBIs across his collegiate career.
About the author: Keagan Stiefel is an editorial writer and a proud alum of UMass Amherst. He’s known for being a devoted NFL Draft advocate and enjoys engaging in sports debates online.
Note: The piece includes a featured image credited to Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images.
