Red Sox Swap Minor-League Pitching Prospects With Nationals

[Brock Beauchamp]

Jeff Passan has reported the Red Sox have swapped right-handed Luis Perales for the Nationals' left-handed pitching prospect Jake Bennett.

Bennett, 25, was ranked No. 10 in Washington’s farm system by MLB.com. Drafted in the second round (45th overall) in 2022 out of Oklahoma, he missed the entire 2024 season because of Tommy John surgery. In 2025, he worked across Single-A Fredericksburg, High-A Wilmington, and Double-A Harrisburg, totaling 75 1/3 innings with 64 strikeouts and 19 walks. He posted a 2.27 ERA in 19 games, including 18 starts overall. He led the Arizona Fall League in strikeouts after the minor-league season was complete.

Perales, 22, was ranked fifth by Talk Sox in Boston’s farm system. Signed out of Venezuela on July 2, 2019, he spent most of 2024 between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland. In May 2024, he had 32 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings alone. Over 33 2/3 innings, he recorded 56 strikeouts and 12 walks. He reached Portland at age 21 and struck out 10 in 7 1/3 innings across two Double-A starts before being sidelined with an elbow injury. After missing most of 2025, he returned late in the season for three rehab outings, totaling 2 1/3 innings and four strikeouts. 

This is a very strange move, as you don't often see minor-league challenge trades. What do you think, Red Sox fans?

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[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Jeff Passan has reported the Red Sox have swapped right-handed Luis Perales for the Nationals' left-handed pitching prospect Jake Bennett.

Bennett, 25, was ranked No. 10 in Washington’s farm system by MLB.com. Drafted in the second round (45th overall) in 2022 out of Oklahoma, he missed the entire 2024 season because of Tommy John surgery. In 2025, he worked across Single-A Fredericksburg, High-A Wilmington, and Double-A Harrisburg, totaling 75 1/3 innings with 64 strikeouts and 19 walks. He posted a 2.27 ERA in 19 games, including 18 starts overall. He led the Arizona Fall League in strikeouts after the minor-league season was complete.

Perales, 22, was ranked fifth by Talk Sox in Boston’s farm system. Signed out of Venezuela on July 2, 2019, he spent most of 2024 between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland. In May 2024, he had 32 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings alone. Over 33 2/3 innings, he recorded 56 strikeouts and 12 walks. He reached Portland at age 21 and struck out 10 in 7 1/3 innings across two Double-A starts before being sidelined with an elbow injury. After missing most of 2025, he returned late in the season for three rehab outings, totaling 2 1/3 innings and four strikeouts. 

This is a very strange move, as you don't often see minor-league challenge trades. What do you think, Red Sox fans?

 

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Interesting trade. I hope it works out well

[Randy Red Sox]

28 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Interesting trade. I hope it works out well

Perales probably told Breslow he would not accept a 1 yr deal

[moonslav59]

56 minutes ago, Randy Red Sox said:

Perales probably told Breslow he would not accept a 1 yr deal

Bennett has 3 options left, so maybe this was the reason for the deal.

[Nick]

1 hour ago, moonslav59 said:

Bennett has 3 options left, so maybe this was the reason for the deal.

Bennett is BIGGER. We seem to value SIZE with our potential starters. We also value RELEASE POINT, CLOSER TO THE PLATE THE BETTER. He's also LEFT HANDED. 

AND LET'S NOT FORGET THAT MOST IMPORTANTLY HE WAS OUT ALL YEAR IN 2024 WITH TOMMY JOHN. THAT'S PROBABLY THE #1 REASON.

[Nick]

Just now, Nick said:

Bennett is BIGGER. We seem to value SIZE with our potential starters. We also value RELEASE POINT, CLOSER TO THE PLATE THE BETTER. He's also LEFT HANDED. 

AND LET'S NOT FORGET THAT MOST IMPORTANTLY HE WAS OUT ALL YEAR IN 2024 WITH TOMMY JOHN. THAT'S PROBABLY THE #1 REASON.

Should all of our minor leaguers go ahead and get Tommy John and get that out of the way?

[moonslav59]

24 minutes ago, Nick said:

Should all of our minor leaguers go ahead and get Tommy John and get that out of the way?

Good idea- before you even need it.

[moonslav59]

Podcast on trade...

https://news.soxprospects.com/2025/12/podcast-ep-395-instant-analysis-of-luis.html

[mvp 78]

12 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Podcast on trade...

https://news.soxprospects.com/2025/12/podcast-ep-395-instant-analysis-of-luis.html

I should have updated my feed this AM. 🙃

Guess I'll have to listen to this while making dinner tonight. 

[sk7326]

At the Athletic,, Law liked the deal for both teams ...

The Nationals are bad and need high ceiling - Perales fits the bill.

Perales obviously coming off of injury.  His control improved a lot - but while the walks went down, he hasn't exactly turned into Greg Maddux either.  There is some reliever risk.

Red Sox under Breslow have shown some ability to help pitchers improve stuff - and Bennett's frame could very well take that.  The the command and stuff are good enough that he might end up making some starts for Boston this season.