Red Sox acquire outfielder from Rockies for pitcher

Billy Heyen

•
Red Sox trade away 3.14 ERA pitcher for 57-steal outfielder from Rockies image

TL;DR

  • Boston Red Sox traded LHP Brennan Bernardino to Colorado Rockies.
  • Red Sox received OF Braiden Ward from Rockies in the deal.
  • Trade aligned 40-man rosters for both MLB teams.
  • Ward had 57 stolen bases and batted .290 in 2025.

The Boston Red Sox pulled off an under-the-radar trade with the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday evening.

This transaction occurred to align the 40-man rosters for both teams, as the Red Sox removed an individual from their 40-man roster in exchange for a minor league player from Colorado.

The terms, reported by MassLive:

  • Red Sox get:  OF Braiden Ward
  • Rockies get:  LHP Brennan Bernardino

MORE: Kyle Tucker trade isn't aging well for Cubs

Bernardino is 33 years old but was really solid for Boston in 2025.

The 6-foot-4 left-handed pitcher achieved a career-low ERA of 3.14 in MLB. He appeared in 55 games, recording 43 strikeouts over 51.2 innings.

Bernardino's overall ERA stands at 3.47 over four major league seasons, having played in 167 of his 169 games for Boston, with the remaining two appearances for Seattle Mariners.

The new guy to the Boston organization is Ward, a 5-foot-9 outfielder who originally was a 16th-round pick out of the University of Washington in 2021.

Ward turns 27 in January.

He divided the 2025 season between Double-A and Triple-A. His most notable statistic was his total of 57 stolen bases across both levels.

Ward batted.290 with a combined.786 OPS. 

He lacks significant power. Out of his 89 hits, 17 were doubles, four were triples, and two were homers.

However, a player possessing Ward's speed inherently holds potential for utility. For Boston, he represents a reasonable acquisition, especially given the necessity of making room on their 40-man roster.

More MLB news:

Staff Writer