There is a lot of discussion this offseason involving the Pittsburgh Pirates and what they may do considering their resources on hand and the urgency in building a winner around Paul Skenes. They just got the ball rolling as they made their first meaningful move of the winter. The Pirates sent starting pitcher Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox for outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia. The trade also included minor league pitcher Tyler Samaniego and catcher Adonys Guzman heading to Boston while the Pirates received minor league pitcher Jesus Travieso.
The Pirates present themselves as a better fit for Jhostynxon Garcia
Although five players were involved in this deal, Oviedo and Garcia were the headliners, and Garcia has a real shot at being a significant contributor in Pittsburgh in 2026. The soon-to-be 23-year-old spent five seasons in Boston’s farm system before establishing himself as a top-100 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and making his Major League debut at the end of the season.
Given the Red Sox lack of space in their current outfield, it would be tough for Garcia to get regular playing time in Boston, but now has the chance to be an everyday player at the big league level in Pittsburgh.
When comparing the two main pieces in this deal — Johan Oviedo and Jhostynxon Garcia —it appears to be a pretty even one-for-one swap. Oviedo has two years left of arbitration before he hits the open market, but simply didn't factor into the long-term plans for the Pirates. They have a number of young arms including Bubba Chandler and Hunter Barco expected to slot into rotation roles and take the place of Oviedo.
On the flip side, Garcia joins an outfield that performed fairly poorly compared to expectations in 2025. Bryan Reynolds continues to decline while Oneil Cruz can’t seem to break out in the manner fans thought he would as a top prospect. Both offensively and defensively, Garcia could potentially be the spark this current unit needs to take a step forward towards contending again.
Jhostynxon Garcia's versatility will be a valuable asset to the Pirates
Garcia can play all three outfield positions if needed, but is better suited in the corners due to his profile as a power bat. He hit 21 home runs between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester for the Red Sox in 2025 on his way to an.810 OPS and a 116 wRC+. His plate discipline raises some strikeout concerns, however, that is a skill that is more easily developed in the earlier years of a big-league career than straight up contact issues.
There’s a decent floor for the Pirates to work with here given Garcia’s bat and defensive upside. He projects as an above-average everyday player, but there’s of course a lot more that can be unlocked for a player his age. As for Oviedo, you kind of know what you’re going to get, so the Pirates are betting on the potential of Garcia. They’re not particularly in a position to add established above-average MLB talent given the organization hasn’t been a desirable destination for free agents for a while now, so this trade at least moves the needle in the right direction for the Pirates.