Red Sox Shockingly Release Prospect Acquired In Andrew Benintendi Trade.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Boston Red Sox made an unexpected move that went mostly unnoticed: they severed their relationship with a fascinating player who had just finished a successful season.
In exchange for outfielder Andrew Benintendi, the Red Sox acquired five players, including right-hander Luis De La Rosa.
During the previous season, the 21-year-old pitched 70 1/3 innings for Single-A Salem and recorded a 2.94 ERA, 88-to-40 strikeout-to-walk ratio,.208 batting average against, and 1.32 WHIP.
His output was in line with his career statistics, which show that he has made 63 appearances and pitched 184 1/3 innings with a 3.03 ERA.
His teenage years were spent primarily dominating different rookie ball leagues, but as demonstrated by his 2023 campaign, he was able to compete with more seasoned opponents on par with players his own age.
De La Rosa appeared to be doing everything in his power to establish his legitimacy on the field, including showing off his strikeout skills.
But the Red Sox must not have thought much of the rising pitcher’s future.
SoxProspects, one of the best databases for media and Red Sox fans, was wary of the righty even with his output.
De La Rosa is rated by SoxProspects as a minor league depth arm with the potential to be an organizational arm.
Apparently scouts inside the organization agree, as they were comfortable letting De La Rosa and his low-to-mid-90s fastball sign elsewhere. 
Though projections and analytics should undoubtedly play a part in decision-making, it is difficult to see how De La Rosa was denied a chance to establish
himself with High-A Greenville in the upcoming season.
Alas, De La Rosa’s departure marks the third player the Red Sox have cut ties with from the Benintendi deal, joining outfielder/first baseman Franchy Cordero and outfielder Freddy Valdez.
Right-hander Josh Winckowski is a hit for the Red Sox, and they also have pitching prospect Grant Gambrell on staff. Gambrell advanced to Triple-A Worcester towards the end of the previous campaign.
Although neither team won the Benintendi trade handily, Winckowski seems to have been the best player moved in the deal.
After outfielder Andrew Benintendi was traded to the Royals in February 2021, the Red Sox acquired five players. Three people are still with the organization, barely two years later.
On Thursday, Boston released Freddy Valdez, an outfielder-turned-pitcher who was originally acquired as part of Benintendi’s comeback.
In a three-team trade with the Royals and Mets, the Sox acquired righty Josh Winckowski and outfielder Franchy Cordero, completing a double comeback.
Second, in June 2021, they added pitchers Luis De La Rosa and Grant Gambrell to their roster, along with Valentin, another prospect.
