The Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox made a roster-savvy move on Tuesday, swapping a pair of intriguing prospects in a deal that’s more about long-term planning than immediate impact.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Mariners receive: RHP Alex Hoppe
- Red Sox receive: C Luke Heyman
At first glance, it’s a simple one-for-one deal. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll see both teams were playing chess with their 40-man rosters ahead of the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.
Let’s start with Alex Hoppe, the 26-year-old right-hander heading to Seattle. The Mariners added him directly to their 40-man roster, a clear signal they see enough upside to protect him from being poached in the draft. Hoppe, a sixth-round pick in the 2022 draft out of UNC-Greensboro, spent this past season climbing the ladder between Double-A and Triple-A.
His numbers? A 4.55 ERA over 61.1 innings, with 73 strikeouts.
That’s about 10.7 strikeouts per nine innings – a solid rate that suggests he knows how to miss bats. While the ERA doesn’t jump off the page, it’s worth remembering that minor league ERAs often come with some context – park factors, defense, and developmental assignments can all skew the stat line.
What matters more to Seattle is the arm talent and the ability to get swings and misses. At 6-foot-1, Hoppe isn’t overpowering in stature, but he’s shown enough to earn a spot on a big-league roster – or at least the protection of one.
For the Red Sox, this move opens up a 40-man roster slot, giving them some flexibility as the offseason heats up. In return, they pick up Luke Heyman, a 22-year-old catcher out of the University of Florida. Boston won’t need to protect him just yet, which gives them time to evaluate and develop him without the pressure of a Rule 5 decision.
Heyman was a 14th-round pick in this year’s draft, and while he didn’t log any pro at-bats in the Mariners’ system this season, his college résumé is plenty intriguing. In 2025, he hit .301 with 13 home runs for the Gators, and over three seasons in Gainesville, he launched 41 homers.
That kind of power from a catcher – especially one who’s 6-foot-4 – is always going to catch a scout’s eye. Add in two summers in the Cape Cod League, and you’ve got a player with a strong foundation of experience against high-level competition.
This is a classic case of two front offices managing their assets with an eye on both the present and the future. Seattle shores up its pitching depth with a righty who could see the big leagues sooner rather than later, while Boston takes a longer-term view, adding a power-hitting catcher who could develop into something special.
In the end, it’s not a blockbuster, but it’s the kind of under-the-radar deal that can quietly pay off down the road.
