Yankees Prospect Reflects on Trade From Red Sox

Elmer Rodríguez, now a top Yankees pitching prospect, discusses the 2024 deal that sent him from Boston to New York.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Right-handed pitcher Elmer Rodríguez, who the Boston Red Sox traded to the New York Yankees in December 2024, reflected on the trade a year later after facing his former team in an exhibition game. Rodríguez, who has blossomed into one of baseball's top pitching prospects with the Yankees, said he was "shocked" by the trade at first but is now "excited" to be with New York.

Why it matters

The trade between the Red Sox and Yankees for Rodríguez and catcher Carlos Narváez has turned out well for both teams, with Rodríguez emerging as a top prospect and Narváez providing catching depth for Boston. The trade highlights how even high-profile deals between rival teams can sometimes benefit both sides in the long run.

The details

In the December 2024 trade, the Red Sox sent Rodríguez, then a promising prospect, to the Yankees in exchange for starting catcher Carlos Narváez. Since the trade, the right-handed Rodríguez has blossomed into one of the best pitching prospects in baseball, while Narváez has provided solid production behind the plate for the Red Sox.

  • On Tuesday, March 4, 2026, Rodríguez faced his former Red Sox teammates while pitching for Team Puerto Rico in an exhibition game.
  • In December 2024, the Red Sox traded Rodríguez to the Yankees for catcher Carlos Narváez.

The players

Elmer Rodríguez

A right-handed pitcher who was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees in December 2024. He has since emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.

Carlos Narváez

The starting catcher the Boston Red Sox acquired from the New York Yankees in the December 2024 trade that sent Elmer Rodríguez to the Yankees.

Boston Red Sox

The Major League Baseball team that traded Elmer Rodríguez to the New York Yankees in December 2024.

New York Yankees

The Major League Baseball team that acquired Elmer Rodríguez from the Boston Red Sox in December 2024.

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What they’re saying

“I was shocked when it happened but at the same time it's a business, it's part of it. So you move on and I was excited to go to the Yankees and I was excited to be there.”

— Elmer Rodríguez (Boston Herald)

“Yeah it would have been fun. You don't see that often, we play against each other like that and it will probably be my first time facing him, but we'll probably face each other in the long end.”

— Elmer Rodríguez (Boston Herald)

What’s next

The Red Sox and Yankees are expected to face each other multiple times during the 2026 MLB season, providing opportunities for Rodríguez and his former teammate Narváez to compete against each other.

The takeaway

The trade between the Red Sox and Yankees for Rodríguez and Narváez has turned out to be a win-win for both teams, with Rodríguez emerging as a top pitching prospect for the Yankees and Narváez providing solid production behind the plate for the Red Sox. The trade highlights how even high-profile deals between rival teams can sometimes benefit both sides in the long run.