Red Sox's Cooper Criswell: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
The Red Sox designated Criswell for assignment Thursday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
The Red Sox re-signed Criswell to a one-year contract in early November, but he'll lose his roster spot less than one month later. He spent the majority of the 2025 season with Triple-A Worcester and should have the chance to contribute as a reliever at some point in 2026 if he sticks with the organization.
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Red Sox's Adonys Guzman: Dealt by Pirates
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Guzman was traded along with Johan Oviedo and Tyler Samaniego from the Pirates to the Red Sox in exchange for Jhostynxon Garcia and an additional player Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The Pirates selected Guzman with the 144th pick in the 2025 draft and is primarily a defensive-minded catcher. He's made only five plate appearances as a pro, so he'll likely begin the 2026 season in the lower levels of the minors.
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Red Sox's Tyler Samaniego: Joining Red Sox
Rotowire
Samaniego was traded along with Johan Oviedo and Adonys Guzman from the Pirates to the Red Sox in exchange for Jhostynxon Garcia and an additional player Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The Pirates added Samaniego to the 40-man roster in mid-November, but he'll now try to reach the majors with the Red Sox. He'll be entering his age-27 season and has yet to pitch above Double-A, though he did post a strong 3.08 ERA and 0.92 WHIP across 26.1 innings with Altoona while working exclusively as a reliever. Samaniego is a strong candidate to begin the 2026 season with Triple-A Worcester, but he could provide depth to the Boston bullpen at some point in the summer months
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Red Sox's Johan Oviedo: Headed to Boston
Rotowire
Oviedo was traded from the Pirates to the Red Sox in exchange for Jhostynxon Garcia and an additional player Thursday,Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
After acquiring Sonny Gray earlier in the offseason, the Red Sox remained aggressive in upgrading their rotation this winter. Oviedo rehabbed from Tommy John surgery for much of the 2025 season, though he managed to join the Pirates' rotation for the final two months of the campaign. In nine starts, Oviedo managed a 3.57 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with a 42:23 K:BB across 40.1 frames. Control has been a consistent concern for Oviedo throughout his 361.0 innings in the big leagues, but he should be a decent back-end starter for the Red Sox.
Red Sox's Vinny Capra: Signs MiLB deal with Red Sox
Rotowire
The Red Sox signed Capra to a minor-league contract Wednesday.
Capra managed just a .125/.157/.177 batting line across 47 contests for the Brewers and White Sox in 2025. The 29-year-old offers plenty of defensive versatility and will give Boston some useful depth at Triple-A Worcester.
The Red Sox acquired Gray and cash considerations from the Cardinals on Tuesday in exchange for Brandon Clarke, Richard Fitts and a player to be named later or cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Gray had a no-trade clause but has agreed to waive his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a deal to the Red Sox. The 36-year-old posted a 4.28 ERA (3.39 FIP) and 201:38 K:BB over 180.2 innings for St. Louis in 2025, marking the second straight year he reached the 200-strikeout plateau. Gray is owed $35 million in 2026 and has a $5 million buyout on a $30 million mutual option for 2027.
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Red Sox's Connor Wong: Avoids arbitration with Red Sox
Rotowire
The Red Sox and Wong (hand) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Thursday.
Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com says the deal is worth $1.375 million, with an additional $75,000 possible in performance bonuses. It was a disastrous 2025 season for the 29-year-old Wong, as he lost his starting job to Carlos Narvaez and finished with a .500 OPS and zero home runs over 63 regular-season contests. Wong -- who is expected to be recovered from October right hand surgery by spring training -- will be Narvaez's backup at catcher again in 2026.
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Focusing on CF, adding strength
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that he would like to keep Rafaela in center field "as long as possible" next season, Foul Territory TV reports.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said something similar last offseason, and while Rafaela made 129 starts in center field in 2025, he was also needed for 19 starts at second base. Rafaela posted a .752 OPS with 14 home runs and an 18.8 percent strikeout rate through the end of July but had just a .622 OPS with two homers and a 22.2 percent strikeout rate between August and September. Cora attributed Rafaela's late-season struggles to the 25-year-old wearing down, and the team has tasked Rafaela with getting "bigger and stronger" this offseason so he won't become fatigued as easily.
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Red Sox's Braiden Ward: Traded to Red Sox
Rotowire
Colorado traded Ward to Boston on Tuesday in exchange for left-handed reliever Brennan Bernardino, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.
Ward is a 26-year-old speedster who stole 57 bases in 64 attempts across Double-A and Triple-A last season. He also batted a healthy .290 over 97 games, but he has very little power, as he went deep just twice in the minors in 2025. Ward has played all three outfield positions as well as second base and third base in the minors, so if he makes it to the majors, he best profiles as a utility player and speed specialist.
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