The Boston Red Sox will acquire pitcher Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates, sending outfielder Jhostynxon García the other way. The Red Sox will also receive minor leaguers Tyler Samaniego, a pitcher, and Adonys Guzman, a catcher, while the Pirates will receive 18-year-old pitcher Jesus Travieso. The Oviedo-for-García trade was first reported by ESPN insider Jeff Passan. Then, Robert Murray of FanSided was first with the full details. The parties have since announced the trade.
Red Sox Get Oviedo
There was much speculation that the Pirates would deal their $77 million starter Mitch Keller. That may still happen, but as always, it’s the player least expected to be dealt who’s traded. But it’s no surprise that Pirates general manager Ben Cherington has again engineered a trade with his former employer and one of his favorite trade partners.
The Boston Red Sox are acquiring Johan Oviedo, Tyler Samaniego and Adonys Guzman from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jhostynxon Garcia and Jesus Travieso, according to a source familiar with the deal.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) December 5, 2025
The Pirates obtained Oviedo in a 2022 deadline deal that sent pitchers Jose Quintana and Chris Stratton to the St. Louis Cardinals. Oviedo made an instant impression in seven starts with Pittsburgh. As a full-time starter in 2023, he was 9-14 with a bad Pirates team, posting a 4.31 ERA, 4.49 FIP, and 1.373 WHIP while tossing a complete-game shutout. Unfortunately, injuries caused him to miss all of 2024 and part of 2025. When he returned, he looked like his old self in nine starts, where he gave up just 16 earned runs in 40 1/3 innings. Opposing batters slashed just .182/.306/.336 against him. Oviedo also turned in a healthy 24.7 percent strikeout rate.
Oviedo is primarily a four-seam fastball/slider pitcher. The fastball averages 95.5 mph while the slider offers good separation at 86.7 mph. He also features a curveball, sinking fastball, and changeup. The Red Sox have been in the market for a starter, and Oviedo should slide into their rotation seamlessly.
Neither Samaniego nor Guzman is ranked among the Pirates’ top 30 prospects. Samaniego, a left-hander, turns 27 in January but has yet to pitch above Double-A. The trade amounts to a nice birthday present for Guzman, however, who turned 22 today. He has just five professional games under his belt.
Pirates Get García
García was the Red Sox’s No. 3 prospect. He now instantly becomes the Pirates’ No. 6 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. Pirates fans will be as amused by García’s nickname, “The Password,” as Pittsburgh baseball pundits will be pleased more than ever about the journalistic protocol that requires the full name to be used only on first reference.
García’s real name was tossed out frequently at last season’s trade deadline. He appeared only briefly for Boston last season, going 1-for-7 while patrolling the corner outfield spots. More importantly, the right-handed batter who turns 23 next week hit .267/.340/.420, 21 HR, and 75 RBI across Double-A and Triple-A in 2025. At six feet and estimated to weigh much more than his listed 163 pounds, he’s said to possess raw power and surprising speed for his size. He needs to improve on the 26.8 percent strikeout rate he posted in the minors in 2025. Barring further offseason moves by Cherington, García seems ticketed for the left field position vacated by Tommy Pham. García has seen action in center field in the minors and presumably should be able to handle PNC Park’s expansive left field. If he reaches the potential projected for him, García should be a significant upgrade over Pham.
Travieso, a right-handed starter, is light-years from the majors and is not a ranked prospect. He’s pitched in 30 games professionally.
Main Photo Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
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