In a rare move between division rivals, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox completed a trade on Wednesday. The Yankees sent catcher Carlos Narvaez to Boston in exchange for minor league right-hander Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and international signing bonus pool money.
Yankees trade Carlos Narvaez to Red Sox for Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, bonus pool money
The 26-year-old Narváez made his MLB debut with the Yankees this past season, hitting .231 across six games. Signed by New York as an undrafted free agent in 2015, the Venezuelan catcher has been a consistent performer in the minors. In 2024, he hit .254 with 11 home runs and 58 RBIs in 96 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, starting 58 games behind the plate while also seeing time as a designated hitter and first baseman.
Narváez showcased his offensive abilities during Winter League play, smashing seven home runs and five doubles with a stellar 1.115 OPS across 23 games. However, with the Yankees’ depth at catcher, including young talents like Austin Wells and Jose Trevino, Narváez became expendable.
Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz, the key return for New York, is ranked as Boston’s No. 13 prospect. The 21-year-old right-hander had a strong 2024 season, posting a 5-5 record with a 2.91 ERA and 102 strikeouts over 89 2/3 innings across two minor league levels, including Class-A Salem. Over three seasons in the Red Sox system, the Puerto Rican native has compiled an 11-11 record with a 2.60 ERA in 48 games (44 starts). Boston selected Rodriguez-Cruz in the fourth round of the 2021 amateur draft.
The Yankees could leverage the additional bonus pool money in their pursuit of top international talent, including Japanese ace Roki Sasaki, who was recently posted to MLB teams.
For Boston, the move comes on the heels of their earlier trade that sent top catching prospect Kyle Teel to the Chicago White Sox as part of a deal for All-Star left-hander Garrett Crochet. To make room for Narváez on their roster, the Red Sox designated infielder Enmanuel Valdez for assignment.
This transaction reflects both teams’ efforts to address roster needs while navigating the competitive AL East landscape. While Narváez may serve as a depth piece for Boston, Rodriguez-Cruz provides New York with a promising arm to bolster their farm system. The bonus pool money could also play a pivotal role in the Yankees’ offseason strategy, making this deal a potentially impactful one for both sides.
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