In the 18th round of the 2017 MLB draft the New York Yankees drafted a pitcher out of the University of Alabama named Garret Whitlock. He would almost immediately make his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Yankees. In 2018, Whitlock would appear in three levels for New York: A, A+, and AA. Overall he’d post a 1.86 ERA across the three levels while making 21 starts. 2019 would start well as he remained in AA: a 3.07 ERA across 14 starts for 70.1 innings. But things wouldn’t stay golden for Whitlock. He would succumb to Tommy John surgery by midseason. With the canceled minor league season in 2020, Whitlock would remain in a state of flux. He’d be recovering from injury but not really progressing as a baseball player.
When it came time to protect their prospects from the Rule 5 draft, the Yankees looked at Whitlock and saw 2019 success, a lost season, and an injury. They didn’t protect him and the Red Sox selected Whitlock on December 10, 2020. Whitlock would go on to strike out 81 in 73.1 innings in 2021 for Boston while posting a 1.96 ERA. He’d allow 2 runs in 8 playoff innings that year as the Sox made it to the ALCS. After a couple of years of attempted conversions back to the rotation and some health issues, Whitlock would put up a monster 2025. A 2.25 ERA, 91 strikeouts, 24 walks in 72 innings. The elite setup man has been worth 8.2 bWAR Red Sox.
Carlos Narváez was signed out of Venezuela in 2015. He would make his professional debut the next year and spend a few seasons as a teenager, working his way through the lowest levels of the minor leagues. He wouldn’t make it to AA until 2023 as a 24-year-old, but his stay would be brief, just 16 games. Promoted once more to AAA, Narváez would remain with Scranton Wilkes-Barre for 180 games. He’d hit .247/.371/.400 but be looked at as a defense-first catcher. Even though he got a cup of coffee for 6 games in 2024, Narváez was nothing but depth for the Yankees. On December 11, 2024 the Yankees would trade the catcher for minor leaguer Elmer Rodriguez.
In his age 26 season, with Connor Wong entering as the starter, Narváez wasn’t even guaranteed to make the roster. But with injury and ineffectivess he got his chance. And as a rookie took over the starting catching job of a playoff team. He’d put up a 2.6 bWAR season and swing the bat to boot! With a .241/.306/.419 slash line, Narváez finds himself in the driver’s seat entering 2026.
Elmer Rodriguez pitched in A+, AA, and AAA for New York with a 2.58 ERA across 150 innings. He struck out 175 and walked 57 as a 21 year old. Not a bad season at all, but in exchange for a starting catcher? A bargain.
Caleb Durbin’s story is slightly more complicated. He was drafted by Atlanta in 2021 and traded to New York for Lucas Luetge, a 38-year-old pitcher. He’d come out of the bullpen for the Braves just 12 times and put up an ERA north of 7. The Yankees would then send Durbin to the Brewers with Nester Cortes ahead of the 2025 season for Devon Williams. He’d only put up a 3rd place finish in the Rookie of the Year.
Playing mostly third base (131 games) with a scattering of second (10) and shortstop (3), Durbin hit .256/.334/.387. He hit 11 homers and stole 18 bases. He lead the league in HBP with 24. He was with 2.8 bWAR. That’s why the Red Sox had to pay a steep-ish price to get him. But his value to a team without a true third baseman, no matter how much he might platoon or share time, Durbin could be invaluable.
The Red Sox have done some good work with their prospects. They’ve really picked up some talented pitchers on the down low. But also Narváez. And Romy Gonzalez. Even Nate Eaton was an under-the-radar addition. This could be a big pickup for Boston, acquired for, essentially, spare parts. And while Durbin did have his breakout with the Brewers there might be more talent in there. He’s probably not going to be Garret Whitlock, but if he’s a third base pickup equal to Narváez? That would be a steal. A third steal. From the Yankees. It’s not the normal player acquisition strategy but it’s a nice benefit to see the Sox advance a little bit at their expense.
