The Boston Red Sox made a surprising trade on Monday night, sending top pitching prospect Luis Perales to the Washington Nationals for another prospect: Left-hander Jake Bennett.

Jeff Passan of ESPN had the information on social media.

About Perales

The No. 7 prospect in the organization, per MLB Pipeline, Perales is a 22-year-old hurler with a big fastball. Signed by the Red Sox in 2019, he returned from Tommy John this season to throw 2.1 innings in the minors. He pitched further in the Arizona Fall League and is projected to make his major league debut in 2027.

What they're saying about Perales

The following comes from a portion of his MLB.com prospect profile:

Perales makes up for a lack of physicality with lightning-quick arm speed that generates four-seam fastballs that sit at 95-98 mph and touch 99 with a flat approach angle and huge carry up in the strike zone. He made progress with his secondary pitches last season, particularly with an upper-80s splitter that features devastating tumble when it's on. He uses both a sweeping low-80s slider and a tighter upper-80s cutter, with the latter pitch improving significantly in 2024.

He hit higher than 100 mph in the AFL this year.

About Bennett

Bennett, 25, was ranked as the No. 11 prospect in the Washington organization. A left-handed pitcher, he was drafted in the second-round of the 2022 draft. He missed all of 2024 with his own Tommy John surgery but returned to go 3-5 with a 2.27 ERA in 19 games (18 starts) this season, spending most of his time (10 appearances) at Double-A.

He struck out only 64 batters in 75.1 innings, but he also had only 19 walks.

He also pitched in the AFL, making the Fall Stars Game.

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What they are saying about Bennett

Standing at 6-foot-6, the southpaw touched 97 mph in that first full season but often sat more in the 91-94 mph range but with a tailing two-seamer. He couldn’t hold that velocity as 2023 wore on in a sign that the elbow was an issue but is back to that range in 2025. His mid-80s changeup works as his best pitch, a true fader with decent separation and good armside movement. The sinker and changeup helped drive impressive groundball rates at every stop. Another mid-80s option in his slider projects more like an average pitch.

Why would the Red Sox make this trade?

There's any number of reasons. Perhaps they don't believe in Perales or perhaps they do believe in Bennett. It could also be a timing thing, as Bennett is closer to big-league ready. Could he be an option in the bullpen for Boston this season?

Could he be a rotation option in 2027 when Sonny Gray and Patrick Sandoval are both free agents? Are the Red Sox planning on moving any of Payton Tolle, Connelly Early or Kyle Harrison in other deals this offseason? And do they want Bennett there as a lefty backup? Anything is possible.

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