BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS — The Red Sox made a significant move on Wednesday, acquiring 26-year-old catcher Carlos Narvaez from the Yankees in exchange for pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. This trade also involved Boston sending $250,000 of international bonus pool space money to the Yankees, as reported by sources. To free up space on the 40-man roster for Narvaez, Boston designated infielder Enmanuel Valdez for assignment. Valdez, 25, had played in 125 games for Boston over the past two seasons.
Prior to this trade, the Red Sox were already in the market for a backup catcher, especially after trading top catching prospect Kyle Teel and three other prospects to the White Sox for frontline starter Garrett Crochet earlier the same day. Narvaez, a native of Venezuela, has limited Major League experience, appearing in just six games with the Yankees last season.
During his time with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre team in 2024, Narvaez showcased his skills by batting .254 with an impressive .370 on-base percentage. He also recorded 11 home runs, 20 doubles, 58 RBIs, and 54 runs in 96 games. Additionally, Narvaez has proven to be a reliable player defensively, throwing out 30% of base stealers in his eight-year minor league career.
On the other end of the trade, the Yankees acquired pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz from the Red Sox. Rodriguez-Cruz, a right-handed pitcher who just turned 21, showed promise in the Low-A and High-A leagues in 2024 with a 2.91 ERA and a .198 batting average against hitters. He displayed a fastball ranging from 95-98 mph during the summer, along with a variety of off-speed pitches in his arsenal.
This trade signifies a strategic move for both teams as they aim to strengthen their squads for the upcoming seasons. The Red Sox are hoping Narvaez can provide depth behind starting catcher Connor Wong, while the Yankees see potential in the young pitching prospect Rodriguez-Cruz. As the MLB offseason progresses, fans can expect more exciting trades and roster changes in preparation for the upcoming season.