The Boston Red Sox have made a bold move this offseason, trading top pitching prospect Luis Perales to the Washington Nationals for their No. 11 prospect, Jake Bennett. This rare trade between the two teams could be the first of many, as the Red Sox have become a frequent trade partner with teams managed by former front office execs. The addition of Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo to their starting rotation is sure to boost their staff, and on December 15, they made another trade to strengthen their already extensive pool of depth.
Perales, a right-handed pitcher entering his age-23 season, was signed as an international free agent from Venezuela. He had a brief but impressive minor league career, pitching in Double-A Portland and the WooSox, and was an Arizona Fall League All-Star earlier this offseason. After returning from Tommy John surgery, Perales hit 100 miles per hour with his fastball and was quickly promoted to Triple-A. The Red Sox did not rule out the possibility of calling him up to help the big league bullpen in the midst of their playoff push.
Bennett, 25, was a former teammate of current Red Sox top pitching prospect David Sandlin at Oklahoma University. He was selected in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft and missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. However, he bounced back strongly in 2025, posting a 2.27 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 64 strikeouts, and 19 walks over 75.1 innings across Single-A, High-A, and Double-A. With his great control and 'elite extension,' Bennett is a player that chief baseball officer Craig Breslow highly values.
This trade could be a strategic move for both teams, as the Red Sox strengthen their pitching depth and the Nationals gain a top prospect. The Red Sox have a history of making trades with teams managed by former front office execs, and with the Nats hiring former Red Sox assistant GM Paul Toboni as their president of baseball operations, the two sides may make more exchanges in the future. The rumors of MacKenzie Gore being available only add to the speculation.
