BOSTON, MA — When the Red Sox pulled off the trade for right-hander Johan Oviedo, the first reaction around the league was simple: Boston just changed the shape of its rotation. The move didn’t come with fireworks, but it immediately forced everyone to reassess the team’s pitching depth, which had been hovering somewhere between “promising” and “uncertain” for months.
Oviedo, acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a package centered around outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia, is under team control through the 2027 season and is expected to earn around $2 million in arbitration for 2026. This cost-controlled stability, combined with his high-ceiling stuff, provides a vital foundation.
The New Pitching Picture: Stability and Competition
The trade—which followed the acquisition of veteran Sonny Gray—adds more than an extra arm; it injects innings, stability, and a fresh layer of competition that could push the entire staff upward. Suddenly, the picture looks very different, defining the roles for 2026:
1. The New Locks
Sources suggest the Red Sox feel strongly about their core four starters heading into Spring Training, creating a clear and reliable top half of the rotation:
- Garrett Crochet (LH): The undisputed No. 1 ace.
- Sonny Gray (RH): The proven veteran workhorse acquired earlier this offseason.
- Brayan Bello (RH): The long-term investment under a team-friendly extension, viewed internally as a future No. 2.
- Johan Oviedo (RH): The new, high-upside flame, who proved his durability in 2023 with 177.2 innings pitched for the Pirates and returned strong from Tommy John surgery late in 2025 (3.57 ERA over his final nine starts).
2. The New Pressure Cooker
With four rotation spots seemingly solidified, the trade immediately puts new pressure on the remaining arms, shifting their roles and expectations:
| Pitcher | Previous Expectation | New Role/Competition |
| Kutter Crawford | Near-lock for rotation | Now competing for the No. 5 spot or a long relief role. |
| Patrick Sandoval | Near-lock for rotation | Must prove health and consistency; also battling for the final spot. |
| Young Prospects | Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, Hunter Dobbins | Less pressure to be ready immediately; now high-value trade chips to acquire an elite bat. |
The Big Question: What Comes Next?
This shift in pitching depth is the kind of mid-offseason twist that can quietly redefine expectations. The Red Sox now have an abundance of starting pitching, a commodity highly valued around the league.
The focus now pivots from acquisition to consolidation. Many insiders are speculating that the Red Sox are now prepared to package their newly acquired pitching depth (prospects or veterans like Crawford/Sandoval) along with their surplus of outfielders to acquire an elite right-handed bat—a long-awaited move that would complete their championship roster overhaul.
