The Boston Red Sox are getting some serious reinforcements to their minor league arms, and more are on the way. Boston already has one of the best pitching prospect groups in all of baseball. Now, two Rule 5 Draft casualties will return to the Sox's minor league system.
On April 1, Andrew Parker of SoxProspects reported that the Red Sox were receiving Angel Bastardo back from the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays selected him in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft, but he missed the entirety of the 2025 season with an injury, so they never had to worry about adding him to their 26-man roster.
Bastardo failed to make the 2026 Opening Day roster for Toronto, though. After a full year, he was returned to the Red Sox.
The right-handed pitcher was a starter in his first tenure with Boston. He posted a 5.36 ERA, .225 BAA, and 1.32 WHIP in 10 starts for Double-A Portland in 2024. Bastardo struck out 53 batters compared to 21 walks in 45 1/3 innings.
Red Sox minor league pitching receives a big boost from Rule 5 Draft returns Angel Bastardo and Jedixson Paez
There is some serious potential as a bullpen arm for Bastardo, and according to Parker, there were pitchers in the Blue Jays’ camp who sang the praises of the 23-year-old and were surprised he didn’t make the roster.
Bastardo isn’t the only return to the Red Sox organization. The Chicago White Sox surprisingly took Jedixson Paez in the 2025 Rule 5 Draft and he made the Opening Day roster despite subpar spring training numbers.
After just three appearances in the majors, the righty was released. Paez gave up six runs on four hits (two home runs). He walked three batters without picking up any strikeouts.
I’ve been adamant about my hatred for the Rule 5 Draft and situations like this. Paez only threw 19 1/3 innings last year and has yet to pitch above High-A. Asking the 22-year-old to suddenly become an MLB-caliber pitcher this early into his career was an absurd thing to do.
Paez’s development could’ve been seriously hindered. Luckily, the White Sox decided to move on early in the year. Now, he should have the opportunity to return to the minor leagues and develop properly.
Paez still has all the potential to be a fantastic big league pitcher someday. He has elite command and an improving arsenal. A jump from High-A to the majors is almost never going to work out, though, no matter who the player is.
Bastardo and Paez bolster a ridiculous pitching prospect pool in the Red Sox's system that includes Juan Valera, Kyson Witherspoon, Anthony Eyanson, Marcus Phillips, Hayden Mullins, Jake Bennett, Eduardo Rivera, John Holobetz, and more.