The Boston Red Sox traded an upper-level starting pitcher on Monday to the injury-strapped Milwaukee Brewers. Boston sent right-hander Quinn Priester to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for 19-year-old outfielder Yophery Rodriguez, a 2025 Competitive A round draft pick (No. 33), and a player to be named later or cash considerations.
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The Red Sox acquired Priester from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline last year in exchange for 2020 first-rounder Nick Yorke. Over the offseason, Priester emerged as a depth option for the Red Sox rotation and early in spring training had a chance to win a Red Sox rotation spot when injuries sidelined Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito and Kutter Crawford. However, Priester struggled for consistency this spring and was optioned to Triple-A Worcester.
The Brewers desperately needed more pitching depth as their staff has been ravaged by injuries to Nestor Cortes, Aaron Civale, Tobias Myers, Aaron Ashby, Brandon Woodruff, DL Hall and Robert Gasser.
The 24-year-old Priester allowed two runs in four innings in his first start this season at Triple A and has a career 6.23 ERA (69 ER/99 2/3 IP) in 21 career major-league games (15 starts) with the Pirates (2023-24) and Red Sox (2024).
As for Boston’s return, Rodriguez, who was assigned to High-A Greenville after the deal, ranked as The Athletic’s No. 8 Brewers prospect. The left-handed hitter appeared in three games for High-A Wisconsin, making three starts in center field and batting .417 (5-for-12). Signed by Milwaukee as an international free agent in January 2023, the Dominican Republic native has hit .254 (155-for-610) with 37 doubles, nine triples and 13 home runs, along with 19 stolen bases, in 165 career minor-league games.
The addition of a 2025 draft pick after the first round is also a boon for the Red Sox.
Keith Law on what Quinn Priester needs to improve with the Brewers
Priester’s issue is that his four-seamer is a batting-practice fastball at this point. Hitters just destroy it. He went more sinker-heavy last year, and it helped a little, but he’s still way too north-south, with no pitch that moves much horizontally and an approach that lets hitters creep up and focus on the central part of the zone. The curveball could be an out-pitch for him and he has feel for a changeup. The Brewers have done well with pitching development lately, and I would expect them to add or alter a pitch for Priester so he can start for them.
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Law on the Red Sox’s return
Rodriguez has significant upside as a hitter, with bat speed and potentially plus power down the road, but right now, he’s a hacker at the plate, and I think better pitching, even this year in High A, might eat him alive. The extra draft pick is probably just as valuable, given how deep this year’s college class seems to be.
(Photo of Priester: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
