WHITE SOX SNAG TOP PITCHING PROSPECT JEDIXSON PAEZ IN DRAFT SURPRISE
BOSTON, MA—The conclusion of the 2025 Rule 5 Draft provided both a shock and a strategic gain for the Boston Red Sox, highlighting the delicate balance of talent management and roster strategy under Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow. While the Red Sox successfully protected several key prospects from being taken, they were forced to sacrifice a talented young arm and made an immediate trade to bolster their bullpen.
THE SHOCK LOSS: JEDIXSON PAEZ
The most significant event for the Red Sox in the Major League phase was the loss of right-handed pitcher Jedixson Paez, who was selected by the Chicago White Sox with the second overall pick.
- The Player: Paez, 21, was considered the Red Sox’s No. 19 prospect and was known for his plus-plus control. He posted a career 3.22 ERA in the minors.
- The Risk: Boston chose not to protect Paez because he was limited to only 19 1/3 innings at High-A Greenville in 2025 due to a right calf strain.
- The Impact: The White Sox are making a bold move, forcing Paez to skip both Double-A and Triple-A to stay on their 26-man roster for the entire 2026 season. Losing a pitcher with his potential is a blow to the farm system, but the Sox will get him back if the White Sox cannot keep him on the active roster.
THE IMMEDIATE GAIN: RYAN WATSON TRADE
Though the Red Sox did not make a pick in the Major League phase, they immediately completed a trade to acquire a ready-made reliever, using their draft spot as currency:
- The Trade: Boston acquired right-handed reliever Ryan Watson from the Athletics (who had just selected him from the San Francisco Giants). In exchange, the Red Sox sent utility prospect Justin Riemer and cash to Oakland.
- The Fit: Watson, 28, posted a solid 4.26 ERA in Triple-A in 2025, but his high strikeout numbers and low walks make him an attractive, low-cost option for the Red Sox bullpen. Given the franchise’s past success with Rule 5 relievers (e.g., Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten), Watson is expected to compete for an Opening Day spot.
MINOR LEAGUE IMPACT
The Red Sox also saw a handful of players taken in the minor league phase of the draft, though these players are not bound by the same restrictions as those taken in the Major League phase:
| Player Lost | Position | New Team |
| Eybersson Polanco | RHP | Los Angeles Angels |
| Alvaro Mejias | RHP | Tampa Bay Rays |
| Jonathan Brand | RHP | Texas Rangers |
The Red Sox also made several minor league additions, securing players like LHP Caden Vire (from the Brewers), utility man Matt Lloyd (Triple-A depth), and C Raudelis Martinez.
Overall, the draft was a calculated risk: sacrificing a talented, but injury-plagued prospect (Paez) to acquire a Major League-ready bullpen piece (Watson), while successfully retaining other key arms like David Sandlin, Tyler Uberstine, and Shane Drohan, who were added to the 40-man roster last month.
