On Thursday, the Boston Red Sox acquired pitcher Johan Oviedo from the Pittsburgh Pirates along with minor league pitcher Tyler Samaniego and minor league catcher Adonys Guzman in exchange for outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia and minor league pitcher Jesus Travieso.
This could be the sleeper deal of the offseason. Something tells me that Oviedo is going to have a breakout season in Boston in 2026. He could be an overnight sensation 10 years in the making.
Oviedo, 27, signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent in 2016 at the age of 18. He made his MLB debut with the Redbirds during the COVID shortened 2020 season. However, Oviedo would not get his first big league win until the 2022 season during which he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the deal which sent Jose Quintana to St. Louis.
The only full season Oviedo has had in the big leagues was in 2023 when he was a full-fledged member of the Bucs starting rotation. In 32 starts, Oviedo went 9-14 with a 4.31 ERA striking out 158 batters in 177.2 innings pitched while walking 83. It was a serviceable season considering the Bucs scored 3 runs or less in 10 of his 14 losses yet managing to win 6 of his final 9 decisions.
Unfortunately, Oviedo would miss the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery and missed most of 2025 though he went 2-1 with a 3.57 ERA in 9 starts with 42 strikeouts against 23 walks in 40.1 innings pitched.
Oviedo will most likely get a chance to be part of the Bosox starting rotation although it remains to be seen how deep he can go into games and if he can keep his walks down. Yet with Oviedo's imposing size, I could see him as a dominant 7th/8th inning setup man and perhaps a future closer.
In any case, Oviedo is under contract with the Red Sox for the next two seasons before he is eligible for free agency. I have a funny feeling that by the time he hits free agency, Oviedo will be one of baseball's premier pitchers whether as a starter or as a reliever.
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