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Boston Red Sox Offseason: Recently Designated for Assignment Reliever Traded to NL Team
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- Boston Red Sox Offseason: Recently Designated for Assignment Reliever Traded to NL Team
The offseason is only six days old, but Boston Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow has been one of baseball's most active executives. Facing a looming roster crunch, Breslow got started on clearing 40-man roster spots early, trading outfielder Nate Eaton to the Athletics and infielder Tsung-Che Cheng to the Detroit Tigers . After reportedly spending the day looking for trade partners to clear the final two roster spots, the team designated relievers Zack Kelly and Eduardo Rivera for assignment .
Just hours after designating him for assignment, the Red Sox are now trading Rivera to the St. Louis Cardinals for pitching prospect Juan Carlos Garcia.
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About Rivera
Signed as a minor league free agent in June 2024 after the then- Oakland Athletics released him, Rivera was surprisingly called up for his major-league debut in April despite never pitching above Double-A. The 23-year-old left-hander made a strong first impression, allowing only one hit in 3.1 scoreless innings of relief against the New York Yankees , but still, he was optioned back to Triple-A Worcester just a day later.
Rivera returned to the big-league club in July, serving primarily as an opener for Brayan Bello, where he saw less success. In three appearances, Rivera allowed seven earned runs on seven hits, walked six, and struck out seven over 6.2 innings.
Overall, the hard-throwing lefty posted a 6.30 ERA in 10 innings with the big league club.
Jul 17, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rivera (99) pitches during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images
Rivera spent most of the season in Triple-A, posting a 2.96 ERA in 24 appearances and striking out 27.7 percent of the batters he faced.
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His season ended early on Aug. 7 when he landed on the Triple-A injured list with a back strain. Rivera was recalled by the Red Sox on Sept. 1 and placed on the 60-day IL with a lumbar strain.
About Garcia
A member of St. Louis' 2025 international amateur free agent class, the 18-year-old right-hander has pitched in the Dominican Summer League for the past two seasons. In 11 starts in 2026, Garcia posted a 4.40 ERA, striking out 39 and walking 10.
Garcia will likely make his stateside debut in the Florida Complex League in 2027, where he will be an interesting project arm for the Red Sox pitching lab.
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In other Red Sox' minor league news
According to Brenden Campbell of SoxProspects.com , the Red Sox are re-signing right-handed pitcher Yordanny Monegro to a minor league deal. Monegro spent much of the 2026 season recovering from Tommy John surgery undergone in August 2025.
The 24-year-old right-hander briefly returned before the minor league season ended, making two appearances with High-A Greenville and one with Double-A Portland. In those three starts, Monegro allowed three earned runs on five hits, striking out eight and walking six.
Monegro joined the Red Sox organization as part of the 2020 international free agent class, signing for $35,000. In six minor league seasons, Monegro has posted a 3.24 ERA over 66 career appearances, striking out 11.24 batters per nine innings, walking 3.93 per nine innings, allowing a .221 batting average against.
He is currently ranked as the No. 24 prospect in the Red Sox system per SoxProspects .
