The MLB offseason is officially heating up as all 30 teams gear up for the Winter Meetings in Orlando. With free agency buzzing and trade talks gaining steam, we’ve already seen some notable movement – and one of the more intriguing deals came Thursday evening between the Pirates and Red Sox.

The Deal:
Boston acquired right-handed starter Johan Oviedo and two prospects from Pittsburgh in exchange for outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia and right-hander Jesus Travieso. Garcia, ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the Red Sox system by MLB Pipeline, will now slot in at No. 6 in the Pirates’ farm system – a solid boost for Pittsburgh’s outfield depth down the line.

But the centerpiece here is Oviedo, a 6-foot-6 righty with a live arm and a high ceiling. And while Boston adds yet another rotation option to a growing stable of arms, the real story might be what this kind of move represents – and why a team like the White Sox should be watching closely.

Who is Johan Oviedo?

Oviedo’s path to this point has been anything but linear. Originally signed out of Cuba by the Cardinals in 2016, he made his MLB debut in the shortened 2020 season.

The results were rocky – a 5.47 ERA over five starts – but the raw tools were evident. He showed improvement in 2021, and by 2022, St.

Louis had shifted him to the bullpen, where he posted a strong 3.20 ERA in 14 appearances.

That midseason, the Cardinals dealt him to Pittsburgh, where the Pirates immediately moved him back into a starting role. He responded with seven encouraging outings to close the year, and in 2023, he logged a full season in the rotation, putting up a 4.31 ERA over 177.2 innings. That’s not ace-level production, but it’s more than serviceable – and the underlying metrics suggested even more upside.

Then came the setback. Oviedo missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

But he returned late in 2025 with nine solid starts, showing flashes of the pitcher Pittsburgh hoped he’d become. Now fully healthy, he heads to Boston with a clean slate and a chance to carve out a key role in their rotation.

Why Oviedo’s Profile Matters

Let’s talk about what makes Oviedo tick. At 6’6”, he creates exceptional extension off the mound, which makes his mid-90s fastball play up – a 94 mph heater can feel like 97 when it’s coming at you from that kind of angle and release point.

He pairs it with a sharp slider and a curveball that keeps hitters guessing. When he’s on, he’s tough to square up.

The biggest red flag? His control.

Oviedo posted a 13.5% walk rate in 2025 – not ideal – but that’s not uncommon for pitchers returning from Tommy John. The stuff is there.

The command may take time. But if he puts it all together, he’s got the tools to be a legitimate mid-rotation arm – or more.

Boston’s Rotation Just Got Deeper

For the Red Sox, Oviedo isn’t a necessity – he’s a luxury. They already have Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, and Brayan Bello projected to lead the rotation, with top prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early waiting in the wings.

Oviedo gives them depth, flexibility, and options. If one of their younger arms isn’t quite ready, or if an injury hits, they now have a big-league-tested arm ready to step in.

And if everyone stays healthy? Oviedo could become a valuable trade chip or even push someone else to the bullpen. That’s the kind of depth contending teams aim for – not just filling holes, but building redundancies that allow them to stay competitive over 162 games.

Why the White Sox Should Be Watching

This is exactly the type of move a team like the White Sox should be making. They’re not in a position to spend big in free agency, and their rotation has more questions than answers. Adding a controllable, high-upside starter like Oviedo wouldn’t just plug a hole – it would give them a potential long-term piece with breakout potential.

It’s unclear if the White Sox were even in the mix for Oviedo, or what the asking price might’ve been. But these are the kinds of opportunities rebuilding teams need to explore. When you’re not spending on top-tier free agents, you have to get creative – and that means finding value in players coming off injury, or those stuck in crowded depth charts on other teams.

Oviedo checks all those boxes. He’s not a sure thing, but he doesn’t need to be. He’s a bet on upside, and those are the bets rebuilding clubs have to be willing to make.

Final Thoughts

The Red Sox just added a 28-year-old starter with swing-and-miss stuff, a power frame, and team control – and they didn’t have to dip into their top two prospects to do it. That’s smart roster building.

For teams like the White Sox, it’s a reminder: there’s more than one way to build a rotation. You don’t always need to land the biggest name on the market. Sometimes, it’s about identifying the right profile – a pitcher with upside, a team-friendly contract, and a path to growth – and making the move before someone else does.

Oviedo may not be the last name we hear moved this winter. But if he hits his ceiling in Boston, plenty of teams – especially those in rebuilding mode – will be wondering why they didn’t make a stronger push.