Where Oviedo fits in the Red Sox’ plans remains an open discussion. Boston believes his ceiling is higher than that of a traditional depth arm, but with several rotation candidates vying for roles, he could also be considered for bullpen work. In 14 career relief appearances, he has posted a 2.16 ERA with a .215 opponents’ batting average, though he has not pitched out of the bullpen since 2022, when he was still with the Cardinals. His contractual situation adds further nuance: Oviedo has two years of arbitration control remaining and one minor league option. However, he is 93 service days shy of reaching five full years of major league service time. Once he crosses that threshold, the Red Sox would need his consent to option him to the minors.Read More
