Johan

Oviedo

Crawford added that he’s fully healthy entering spring training after missing last season with knee and wrist issues that ultimately required a mid-summer procedure on his wrist. The 29-year-old figures to transition to a versatile swingman role, likely operating in long relief for the Red Sox next season, but he could be in the mix for one of their final rotation spots along with veterans Johan Oviedo and Patrick Sandoval in addition to top prospects Connelly Early and Payton Tolle.

The Red Sox traded for Oviedo this offseason and figure to slot him into the back end of their rotation this season. Ovedio missed 2024 after Tommy John surgery and returned last year to post a 3.57 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 42/23 K/BB ratio in 40 1/3 innings. He needs to be more consistent with his command, but Oviedo has the foundation to be a solid mid-rotation starting pitcher for Boston next season at a cheap cost.

Oviedo strengthens the back end of Boston’s rotation and still possesses the kind of mid-rotation upside that surfaces whenever he’s actually in the strike zone. The 27-year-old righty owns a respectable 4.24 ERA and 20.2 percent strikeout rate across 361 major-league innings since 2020. He represents a worthwhile gamble for the Red Sox since he’s under team control through 2027 and allows them to bolster their pitching staff without sacrificing any of their established big-league outfield depth. He could make a real leap if he throws strikes more consistently given the quality of his arsenal, but he’s unlikely to be rostered in most fantasy formats to open next season.

The Red Sox are getting lefty Tyler Samaniego and catcher Adonys Guzman, with righty Jesus Travieso going to Pittsburgh — leaving Oviedo as the only established major leaguer involved in the trade. Garcia’s path to an everyday role was blocked in Boston’s overcrowded outfield entering next season, but that obstacle disappears in Pittsburgh, where he should have a clear opportunity to play right away. “The Password” appeared in five games for the Red Sox this past season after batting .267/.340/.470 with 21 homers and seven steals across 114 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. The deal makes a ton of sense for both sides as the Red Sox were able to bolster their starting rotation depth without sacrificing any of their major-league outfield depth while the Pirates swap some pitching depth for a high-upside, power-hitting corner outfield prospect.

The 27-year-old Oviedo missed all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and then was delayed to start 2025 with a lat strain. However, he posted a 3.57 ERA in nine starts in 2025 while showing off an upper-90s fastball and improved shapes on his two-seam and four-seam fastball. Pair that with a slider that has been a plus pitch for him, and teams see the makings of a solid back-of-the-rotation starter. Rosenthal reports that the Pirates would much rather trade Mitch Keller and his $54.5 million salary over the next three years, but both right-handers are names to watch this offseason.

Oviedo, 27, gave up both runs in the first inning on a homer by Ronald Acuña Jr. After that, the right-hander was solid; albeit in a game where he received no run support. Oviedo finishes with an ERA of 3.57 in 2025 with a 42/23 K/BB over nine starts. If he’s still with Pittsburgh, he’ll compete for a spot at the back of their rotation in 2026.

Oviedo was pulled with a 4-2 lead after walking TJ Friedl with two outs and the bases empty in the fifth. Friedl was then caught stealing to end the inning, which meant that Dauri Moreta, who didn’t come back out for the sixth, ended his night with one out recorded and no batters retired. Oviedo probably won’t pitch again this weekend, as the Pirates have handled him carefully in his return from Tommy John. He ends up 2-0 with a 3.57 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 35 1/3 innings in eight starts. Given his arbitration status and the Pirates’ pitching depth, he’s someone who could be involved in trade talks this winter.

Oviedo was solid for four of the five innings, and while an 80 percent success rate is good for a lot of things in life, its not ideal for a starting pitcher; especially when that one bad inning is a four-run first. Oviedo allowed five hits, walked three and struck out three in the mediocre — at best — effort. He’ll try and find the form that was so good in his previous few outings against the Reds on Thursday.

Oviedo allowed single runs in the first two innings, but the kept the Orioles quiet the rest of the way. He’s 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA in five starts since moving into the rotation last month. The Pirates have to be feeling pretty good about their starting pitching depth going into 2026. It’s just a matter of whether they’ll use any of it to try to improve their anemic offense. Oviedo will face the Cubs next week.

Oviedo had to fight through some adversity right off the bat when the often sure-handed Jared Triolo booted a ball in the first that brought home a run and left runners on second and third with one out. That was it though, as the Brewers couldn’t push across another run and Oviedo felt in control for the rest of this outing. He forced 10 swings-and-misses including four with his slider and used that as his primary pitch. It’s been an encouraging handful of starts since he came off the injured list and will try to keep the momentum going next time out against the Nationals.