Johan Oviedo's Big Move to the Red Sox

In a significant shake-up for both teams, the Boston Red Sox have acquired starting pitcher Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a five-player trade. This deal, reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan, promises to reshape the pitching landscape for the Red Sox as they look to strengthen their rotation.

The Pirates will receive Jhostynxon Garcia and Jesus Travieso in return, adding depth to their roster. Oviedo's move comes as the Red Sox continue to make changes following their recent playoff appearance, where they finished the 2025 season with an impressive 89-73 record.

Oviedo's Performance and Injury Comeback

Johan Oviedo joined the Pirates in 2022 after being traded from the St. Louis Cardinals. However, his recent history has been marred by injuries, including missing the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery. This past season, he struggled with a lat injury that delayed his debut until August, limiting him to just nine games. Despite these challenges, Oviedo showcased his potential, ending with a 2-1 record, a 3.57 ERA, and 42 strikeouts in 40.1 innings pitched.

The Red Sox, keen to bolster their rotation, have been proactive this offseason. In addition to acquiring Oviedo, they traded for starting pitcher Sonny Gray from the Cardinals last month, highlighting their commitment to improving their pitching staff. In 2025, the Red Sox's overall pitching performance ranked fifth in the majors with a 3.70 team ERA, while their starters had an average ERA of 3.92.

With Oviedo's addition, the Red Sox aim to enhance the back end of their rotation, complementing a stellar season by Garrett Crochet who led the majors in strikeouts with 255 and recorded an impressive 18-5 record.