In 2026, Craig Breslow and the Boston Red Sox have lived and died by the ever-popular saying: "you can never have too much pitching." The Red Sox have learned this well in the past, but last year, it stung particularly hard.
The Red Sox opened the 2025 season with Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello on the injured list, later in the year they lost Tanner Houck to an elbow injury (eventually Tommy John surgery), Hunter Dobbins tore his ACL and Richard Fitts moved on and off the IL throughout the year. As they dealt with their many ailments, the Red Sox surely wished they'd held onto Quinn Priester.
Boston traded Preister to the Milwaukee Brewers on April 7 of last year, not even a year after trading for him at the 2024 trade deadline. Priester quickly found a rhythm with the Brewers and posted a 3.32 ERA over 157.1 innings, haunting the Red Sox from afar.
That may not be the case this year, however. Priester has struggled severely through three rehab starts with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, to the tune of a 16.20 ERA over five innings. He's allowed nine runs on seven hits and eight walks with five strikeouts.
Former Red Sox pitcher Quinn Priester's rehab with Brewers halted after setback
Before the season, Priester was placed on the IL with right thoracic outlet syndrome, a nerve injury to the neck and shoulder area that can run all the way down the arm and into the fingers. It manifested in Priester as a wrist injury in the fall. Reporter Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Priester experienced a setback and his rehab assignment has been shut down (subscription required).
It's unfortunate to see an injury put a stop to Priester's early dominance with the Brewers. While the Red Sox could've used him in their rotation last year, Milwaukee clearly has some talent for bringing the best out of pitchers that Boston lacks.
The trade isn't a total wash for the Red Sox. They got outfield prospect Yophery Rodriguez and top pitching prospects John Holobetz (as the Player To Be Named Later) and Marcus Phillips (2025 Competitive Balance draft pick). Still, another solid pitcher would've done wonders for the Sox's rotation last year, particularly during their playoff run.
Even though Priester isn't pitching like his 2025 self yet, the Red Sox aren't out of the woods when it comes to embarrassment from the Brewers organization. Kyle Harrison has been incredible for Milwaukee. He's posted a 2.12 ERA with 35 strikeouts and nine walks over 29.2 innings through six starts. He would've been a great addition to Boston's currently hurt rotation that has Garrett Crochet, Johan Oviedo, Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval on the IL.
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