As the Boston Red Sox wrapped up their 2025 campaign, the organization faced several key choices regarding impending free agents.
While third baseman Alex Bregman will likely demand a salary exceeding the $35 million he earned this year, the club turned its focus to a towering 6-foot-7 pitcher named Eduardo Rivera.
The 22-year-old southpaw, who spent the year shuttling between the High-A Greenville Drive and Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, became eligible for free agency. On Tuesday, he inked a fresh deal to remain with Boston, as reported by Alex Speier of the Boston Globe via Bluesky.
Rivera’s debut at the Double-A level with Portland proved challenging, resulting in a 1-5 record across 10 appearances, including nine starts. However, he impressed by fanning 40 hitters in 42.1 innings and maintaining a solid 3.40 ERA.
Hailing from Puerto Rico, Rivera first joined the Red Sox in June 2024, shortly after being cut loose from a minor league pact with the Oakland Athletics.
He concluded the prior season at Low-A Salem, where he posted a 0-1 mark alongside a sharp 1.99 ERA in six outings (four as a starter), notching 30 strikeouts against only seven walks over 22.2 innings.
Prior to his advancement to Portland, Boston deployed Rivera with their High-A squad in Greenville within the South Atlantic League. There, he overwhelmed opponents, delivering a 1.61 ERA, 68 punchouts, and a stingy 0.83 WHIP across 44.2 innings.
Despite not cracking MLB Pipeline’s ranking of the Red Sox’s top 30 prospects, a hurler with Rivera’s imposing frame naturally draws scrutiny from scouts and executives. The team evidently saw enough upside to invest in him once more.
Speier points out that Rivera might serve as a valuable depth piece for the major league roster by the middle or end of 2026. That said, should rival clubs view him as nearly ready for The Show, they could snag him during December’s Rule 5 draft.
Rivera initially entered professional baseball as an undrafted free agent with the A’s back in June 2021.
