Red Sox Acquire Right-Handed Pitcher Luis García from Los Angeles Angels

BOSTON, MA — The Boston Red Sox today acquired right-handed pitcher Luis García from the Los Angeles Angels, in exchange for four minor league players: outfielder Matthew Lugo, first baseman Niko Kavadas, right-handed pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn, and right-handed pitcher Yeferson Vargas.

In addition, the Red Sox made the following roster moves:

• Optioned right-handed pitcher Trey Wingenter to Triple-A Worcester and subsequently designated him for assignment.
• Added right-handed pitcher Yohan Ramírez to the active Major League roster. He will wear number 48.

The Red Sox' 40-Man Roster is now at 40.

García, 37, has pitched in 45 games for the Angels this season, going 5-1 with four saves, a 3.71 ERA (18 ER/43.2 IP), 40 strikeouts, 14 walks, and four home runs allowed. The right-hander ranks in Major League Baseball's 86th percentile in ground ball rate (51.2%) and 85th in fastball velocity (96.3 MPH), as well as the 79th percentile in chase rate (31.2%) and 71st in barrel rate (6.4%). In his last 11 outings (beginning June 21), he has recorded a 0.71 ERA (1 ER/12.2 IP), 0.71 WHIP, and .159 opponent batting average, issuing zero walks in 10 of those 11 outings.

Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, García was originally signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in January 2004. He has appeared in 530 Major League games (four starts) with the Philadelphia Phillies (2013-18), Angels (2019, '24), Texas Rangers (2020), St. Louis Cardinals (2021), and San Diego Padres (2022-23). Since the start of the 2021 season, he has pitched in 204 games and recorded a 3.64 ERA (80 ER/197.2 IP) with 15 home runs allowed, making more than 60 appearances in both 2022 (64) and 2023 (61). In five career Postseason games (2021-22), García has allowed only one run on four hits in 6.1 innings.

Lugo, 23, has hit .285 (77-for-270) with 20 doubles, four triples, and 16 home runs in 78 games this season with Double-A Portland (43 games) and Triple-A Worcester (35 games), making 55 starts in left field, five as the designated hitter, and one in center field. Selected by the Red Sox in the second round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, the right-handed hitter has batted .270 (432-for-1,599) in 424 career minor league games.

Kavadas, 25, has hit .281 (74-for-263) with 20 doubles and 17 home runs in 83 games this season with Worcester, making 53 starts at first base and 28 as the designated hitter. Selected by the Red Sox in the 11th round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, the left-handed hitter has batted .254 (271-for-1,068) in 335 career minor league games.

Zeferjahn, 26, owns a 3.52 ERA (15 ER/38.1 IP) in 25 games (one start) this season with Portland (seven games) and Worcester (18 games). Selected by Boston in the third round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, the right-hander owns a 4.90 ERA (127 ER/233.1 IP) in 123 career minor league games (35 starts).

Vargas, 19, was signed by Boston as an international free agent in June 2023. A Dominican Republic native, the right-hander is 4-7 with a 4.52 ERA (35 ER/69.2 IP) in 23 appearances (15 starts) in the Dominican Summer League and Florida Complex League and with Single-A Salem.

Wingenter, 30, has allowed seven runs in 2.1 innings over two games with Boston this season, most recently pitching in last night's game against the Seattle Mariners. Acquired in a minor league trade with the Detroit Tigers on July 6, he also owns a 3.03 ERA (13 ER/38.2 IP) in 30 Triple-A games with Toledo (26 games) and Worcester (four games). Originally selected by the San Diego Padres in the 17th round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, the Alabama native has posted a 5.84 ERA (58 ER/89.1 IP) in 92 career Major League games (one start) with the Padres (2018-19), Tigers (2023), and Red Sox (2024).

Ramírez, 29, was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. The right-hander owns a 5.98 ERA (29 ER/43.2 IP) in 37 games this season with the New York Mets (five games), Baltimore Orioles (five games), and Dodgers (27 games). Originally signed by the Houston Astros as an international free agent in July 2016, the Dominican Republic native owns a 4.51 ERA (84 ER/167.2 IP) in 139 career games with the Seattle Mariners (2020-22), Cleveland Guardians (2022), Pittsburgh Pirates (2022-23), Chicago White Sox (2023), Mets (2024), Orioles (2024), and Dodgers (2024).