Photo Credit: South Alabama Athletics
On Thursday, the Red Sox continued to rework their rotation in a five-player deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Red Sox dealt Jhostynxon Garcia and a pitching prospect to the Pirates for three players, including Johan Oviedo. Part of the return for Boston is lefty Tyler Samaniego, who is coming off an impressive 2025 campaign.Â
Between four levels, the 26-year-old posted a 3.99 ERA and struck out 44 batters. He also added three holds and three saves to his resume. As Samaniego moved through the Pirates system, he was hard to barrel up, holding opponents to a .209 batting average.
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The newest Red Sox prospect was at his best in Double-A. In 20 outings for the Altoona Curve, he posted a 3.08 ERA. He continued to be a strikeout machine, recording 30 strikeouts in 26.1 innings. Against more advanced competition, the Alabama native held his own, which did not go unnoticed.Â
Earlier this offseason, the Pirates added Samaniego to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. That is partly why the Red Sox designated Cooper Criswell for assignment after the trade to open up a roster spot. The Red Sox are hoping that the former 15th-round pick can become a valuable weapon out of the bullpen.Â
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While Oviedo was the headliner in this deal, Samaniego could be an intriguing piece for Alex Cora. His arsenal includes a fastball that tops out in the mid-90s. He can also keep batters off balance with a slider and changeup. That combination has played at every level Samaniego has pitched at.
It will be interesting to see how the Red Sox use their newest reliever. When healthy, he has shown that he can be a valuable bullpen piece with room to grow. If he can continue to build on his success in Double-A, then he could have a role in Boston at some point next summer.