DENVER, CO (January 18, 2025) The Colorado Rockies made a series of roster moves Tuesday, including a trade with the Boston Red Sox to acquire veteran left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino in exchange for minor-league outfielder Braiden Ward.
The Rockies look to 33-year-old Brennan Bernardino to strengthen their bullpen, particularly against left-handed hitters.
Bernardino has compiled a career 10-8 record with a 3.47 ERA across 169 Major League games (12 starts) over four seasons with the Seattle Mariners and Red Sox. Bernardino was effective last season with the Red Sox, posting a 3.14 ERA with 43 strikeouts over 51.2 innings pitched in 55 appearances.
Most importantly, the left-hander has been particularly successful against left-handed batters holding opposition batters to a .211 batting average, .276 on-base percentage, and .336 slugging percentage in his MLB career. This ability to get tough on left-handed outs will be a welcome asset at Coors Field.
In exchange for Bernardino, the Red Sox receive Braiden Ward, a 26-year-old outfielder who spent the 2024 season in the Rockies’ minor league system.
Three Prospects Added to 40-Man Roster
In addition to the trade, the Rockies selected the contracts of three prospects, officially adding them to the 40-man roster. This move protects them from being exposed in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.
The three players are:
Left-Handed Pitcher Welinton Herrera: A high-upside arm who has climbed through the minor league ranks.
Right-Handed Pitcher Gabriel Hughes: Considered one of the club’s top pitching prospects, Hughes was a first-round draft pick in 2022.
Outfielder Sterlin Thompson: A promising bat in the organization, Thompson was the team’s first-round selection in the 2022 draft.
Rolison and Toglia Designated for Assignment
To make room on the 40-man roster for the newly acquired and selected players, the Rockies designated two players for assignment (DFA):
Left-Handed Pitcher Ryan Rolison
Infielder Michael Toglia
Designating a player for assignment is the first step in removing them from the 40-man roster. The club now has seven days to trade, release, or place the player on outright waivers.
Red Sox acquire Catching Prospect Luke Heyman
In a separate deal with the Seattle Mariners, Boston acquired a high-ceiling catching prospect, right-handed pitcher Alex Hoppe.
A 14th-round draft pick in 2025, Heyman was a standout at the University of Florida. In his final collegiate season (2025), the 6-foot-4 catcher batted .301 with 13 home runs and a powerful .578 slugging percentage across 49 games before a season-ending injury. Over three seasons with the Gators, he amassed 41 total home runs, signaling significant offensive potential.
The Red Sox sent reliever Alex Hoppe, who finished the 2025 season with Triple-A Worcester, to the Mariners. Hoppe, a 6th-round pick in 2022, recorded a 4.76 ERA across 37 appearances for Worcester this past season.
Mariners Roster Moves
As a result of their acquisition of Hoppe, the Seattle Mariners designated veteran left-handed pitcher Tayler Saucedo for assignment. Saucedo, a Washington state native, appeared in 10 games for the Mariners in 2025 and has a career 4.36 ERA across 148 total MLB appearances with both the Blue Jays and the Mariners.