DALLAS— The Boston Red Sox acquired catcher Carlos Narváez from the New York Yankees in exchange for international signing bonus pool funds and minor league pitcher Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz.
Earlier in the day, Boston traded top catching prospect Kyle Teel to the White Sox as part of a deal for All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet. The Red Sox sent four prospects, including Teel, to Chicago in the high-profile trade, making the agreement with their AL East rival even more notable.
Narváez hit.231 in six games this season, marking his big league debut with the Yankees. In 96 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the 26-year-old Venezuelan, who was first signed by the team as an undrafted free agent in 2015, hit.254 with 11 home runs and 58 RBIs. He started twelve games at first base, twenty-three as the designated hitter, and fifty-eight at catcher.
In order to make room on the 40-man roster, Red Sox second baseman Enmanuel Valdez, who started on opening day of the previous season, was assigned.
Rodriguez-Cruz, 21, appeared in 21 games (20 starts) this season across two teams, with Class-A Salem being the highest level. He posted a 5-5 record with a 2.91 ERA and recorded 102 strikeouts over 89 2/3 innings. The Puerto Rican pitcher has a career record of 11-11 with a 2.60 ERA in 48 games (44 starts) over three minor league seasons in the Red Sox organization.
Boston selected Rodriguez-Cruz in the fourth round of the 2021 amateur draft.
A huge bright spot for the Yankees following the Red Sox’s historic Garrett Crochet trade.
The biggest move of the Winter Meetings unfolded Wednesday afternoon, just ahead of the Rule 5 Draft, involving none other than the Yankees’ fiercest rival, the Boston Red Sox. After losing out on the battle for Max Fried on Tuesday night, Boston made a bold counter.
Julian McWilliams reported that the Red Sox are acquiring White Sox ace Garrett Crochet in a blockbuster trade. The package Boston is sending to Chicago is substantial, showcasing their effort to recover after missing out in free agency and reportedly debating a pursuit of Alex Bregman. Despite those setbacks, this move marks a significant rebound.
For Yankees fans seeking consolation, there’s plenty to consider. Crochet is only under team control through 2026, and Boston’s current roster isn’t built for immediate contention. Additionally, Red Sox fans often emphasize their highly-regarded farm system and its potential for long-term success, though this trade may have compromised that future.
Boston is parting with a hefty package, including No. 4 prospect catcher Kyle Teel, No. 5 prospect and 2024 first-round pick outfielder Braden Montgomery, No. 11 prospect infielder Chase Meidroth, and No. 14 prospect pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez. This is a significant price to pay for a player who only became a full-time starter in 2024 and has two years of team control remaining.
While the Red Sox dealt from their prospect surplus, the trade raises questions about the long-term impact on their system. Teel, Montgomery, and Gonzalez, in particular, were considered players with high ceilings. Moreover, Crochet, who has 32 career starts and recently demanded a new contract, comes with risk due to past Tommy John surgery and a limited track record.
The deal provides a short-term boost to Boston’s rotation, but significant additional moves are required for this trade to pay off fully. If the Red Sox aim to make further trades, they risk depleting MLB-ready resources even more.
For the Yankees, there’s no immediate reason to panic unless Boston follows up with two more major moves before the Winter Meetings conclude.
