Yankees Promote Former Red Sox Prospect Acquired In Carlos Narvaez Trade
Perhaps the pitcher can salvage the deal for New York
The Boston Red Sox landed a major heist when acquiring Carlos Narváez from the New York Yankees last offseason. At this point, the Yankees can only hope their acquisition turns a regrettable deal into a win-win.
Last December, the Yankees sent Narváez to the Red Sox for Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz. While Boston certainly has no complaints over its return, the 21-year-old pitching prospect has also shown promise in New York’s farm system.
Rodriguez-Cruz took one step closer to the Bronx on Friday. The Yankees promoted him to Double-A Somerset.
Boston drafted Rodriguez-Cruz with the No. 105 overall pick in 2021, and he posted a 2.92 ERA in 89 2/3 innings last season. He’s pitched even better in 2025, registering a 2.26 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings for High-A Hudson Valley.
The 6-foot-3 hurler has allowed three combined earned runs (and four unearned) over his last six starts, including five scoreless innings against the Red Sox’s Greenville affiliate on June 13. Rodriguez-Cruz compiled eight strikeouts over seven shutout frames during his last start on July 5.
MLB.com ranks Rodriguez-Cruz sixth among Yankees prospects, but shortstop George Lombard (No. 36) is the only one to crack the recently updated overall top 100. The scouting report says the 160-pound pitcher has a “mid-rotation starter ceiling if he develops average control.”
The strike zone has often eluded Rodriguez-Cruz, who has a career 4.1 walks per nine innings. Despite his recent dominance, he’s worked around 12 free passes in his past four outings.
Perhaps the Red Sox would have second thoughts about trading Rodriguez-Cruz if not for Narváez’s breakout.
Narváez played just six games for the Yankees before beginning the 2025 season as a backup to Connor Wong. The 26-year-old now ranks fourth in WAR (2.9) among all catchers, batting .275/.349/.445 with the most defensive runs saved (13) at the position.
Narváez missed out on an All-Star selection behind Cal Raleigh and Alejandro Kirk, but he could keep making the Yankees pay for sending him to their rival.
