BOSTON — Since taking the reins last fall, Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has emphasized the need to convert some of the team’s position player assets into high-level pitching depth. On Monday, he took a significant step in that direction with a new trade.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the Red Sox and Pirates are finalizing a deal to send right-hander Quinn Priester to Boston in exchange for prospect Nick Yorke. Priester, 23, was the 18th overall pick in the 2019 draft, while Yorke, 22, was selected a year later at No. 17 overall.
This trade, which marks Breslow’s third in four days following acquisitions of starter James Paxton and catcher Danny Jansen, has not yet been officially announced by either team.
Boston’s farm system is rich in position players but short on promising young pitchers. Priester, a former top-100 prospect who has had difficulties in the majors, offers potential as a pitcher, while Yorke, a primarily second baseman and left fielder, seemed to be overshadowed by more promising prospects and major league contributors. The trade could benefit both teams in the long run, providing a fresh start for both players.
Priester made his major league debut last season but has struggled, posting a 6.46 ERA in 94 ⅔ innings over 20 appearances (14 starts) for the Pirates. He allowed 110 hits and walked 40 batters during this period. His Triple-A performance has been stronger, with a 3.81 ERA and 9.7 K/9 rate in 151 innings over the last three seasons. As a player with remaining options, Priester might slot into the rotation at Triple-A Worcester alongside Richard Fitts, a top prospect.
Once considered a top-100 prospect by Baseball America in 2021 and 2022, Priester peaked at No. 58 in 2021 but has seen his stock decline due to major league struggles. Recently, the Pirates have used him out of the bullpen as a multi-inning option since returning from a lat injury on July 9. The Red Sox likely view Priester as a potential long-term starter.
Yorke, who reached Triple-A this season, has excelled there, hitting .310 with six home runs, 19 RBIs, and a .898 OPS in 38 games for the WooSox. His performance in Boston’s system has been inconsistent since he was a surprise first-round pick, but his recent success has made him a top prospect in the organization. This season, he is ranked 14th by Baseball America and 12th by SoxProspects.
Yorke joins Eddison Paulino and Cutter Coffey, who were traded to Toronto in the Jansen deal, as positional prospects moved by Breslow recently. The Red Sox are also actively seeking bullpen help before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. ET trade deadline.
