Boston and Washington Pull Off Surprising Pitching Swap
Tyler Maher
After a relatively quiet stretch at the Winter Meetings last week, the Red Sox kicked off the week with a notable pitching trade on Monday.
First reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Monday night, Boston is sending its top pitching prospect Luis Perales to the Washington Nationals in exchange for Nationals pitching prospect Jake Bennett. Both teams have publicly confirmed the deal.
Perales, 22, is a powerfully armed right-hander who carries impressive velocity and stuff. At the time of the deal, he was Boston’s No. 7 prospect, per MLB Pipeline.
The Red Sox announced the trade, noting they acquired left-hander Jake Bennett from Washington in exchange for right-hander Luis Perales.
Despite limited action due to Tommy John surgery over the past two seasons, Perales could be in line for a big-league debut as soon as next year. He returned last season to pitch in three combined Double-A and Triple-A appearances before participating in the Arizona Fall League, where he earned All-Star honors despite an 0-2 record and a 10.32 ERA over six starts.
In return, Boston lands Nationals’ No. 11 prospect Jake Bennett. Bennett, 25, is a left-handed pitcher who also underwent Tommy John surgery but came back strong in 2025, posting a 2.27 ERA over 75 1/3 innings across three levels.
This trade marks the first deal between Boston’s chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and one of his former colleagues, Paul Toboni, who left the Red Sox after a decade and now serves as Washington’s president of baseball operations. Toboni was already familiar with Perales, which may have helped move the deal along in a one-for-one prospect exchange, a relatively uncommon type of deal.
About the Author
Tyler Maher is an editorial writer who has contributed to NESN. He previously served as an editor for Forbes Advisor, Minute Media, and MLB.com. A Tufts alum from Massachusetts, he now resides in Rhode Island.
Image credit: Jerome Miron/Imagn Images
Additional notes: All club confirmations and details are based on official team statements and widely reported reporting from ESPN and NESN.
Would you be curious to see how Perales might adjust to the Nationals’ pitching environment and what Bennett’s left-handed profile could add to Boston’s depth? Share your thoughts in the comments.
