Quinn Priester's incredible Brewers streak cemented Red Sox trade steal even further

Baseball has a funny way of repeating itself, and the sense of déjà vu it creates can be fascinating. In the case of the Milwaukee Brewers and Boston Red Sox, that phenomenon has come into play.

Early in the season, the Brewers traded for Quinn Priester in desperate need of starting pitching help. At the time, which was just early April, Brandon Woodruff was being eased back in after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2023. DL Hall (lat), Aaron Ashby (oblique), and Tobias Myers (oblique) were on the IL due to spring training injuries, while Nestor Cortes (elbow) and Aaron Civale (hamstring) both landed on the IL despite being healthy on Opening Day. Prospect Robert Gasser, who maintains his rookie status despite debuting last year, was unavailable as he continued to rehab from elbow surgery.

This led to Milwaukee sending three players Boston's way in exchange for Quinn Priester. The Red Sox, at the time, had an excess amount of starting pitchers and had Priester beginning the year in the minor leagues. So, they were glad to absorb prospect outfielder Yophery Rodriguez, pitcher John Holobetz, and the 33rd overall 2025 MLB draft pick, which ended up being pitcher Marcus Phillips out of Tennessee.

Since that trade, Priester has been phenomenal for the Brewers, posting a 3.25 ERA over 151.1 innings so far. Furthermore, Milwaukee has won each of the last 19 games he has appeared in. This is the second longest streak over the last 125 years, matching Carl Hubbell’s 19-game run for the Giants in 1936.

On the contrary, the Red Sox, who are holding onto a playoff spot as a Wild Card team, have since seen their starting rotation get decimated with injury, resembling the state that the Brewers’ starting staff was in at the beginning of the year.

As the Brewers enjoy Quinn Priester's impressive breakout season, the Red Sox could use some stability in their starting rotation

Over time, the Red Sox have seen their starting pitching depth slowly dwindle. As expected, Patrick Sandoval hasn't pitched for them this year. However, unexpectedly added to the injury list this season was Tanner Houck, who underwent Tommy John surgery this summer, Kutter Crawford, who underwent surgery on his wrist after previously being close to returning from tendinopathy affecting his knee, and Hunter Dobbins, who went down with a torn ACL. Additionally, Walker Buehler was released after posting a 5.45 ERA through the end of August.

All of this has contributed to a weakened back end of Boston’s starting rotation. Beyond Garrett Crochet (2.69 ERA), Bryan Bello (3.34 ERA), and Lucas Giolito (3.46 ERA), the Red Sox lack a reliable option. Had they held on to Priester, he could have been the steady presence they’re currently missing.

Instead, Priester is in Milwaukee, where he’s thrived, and now finds himself on the brink of history, aiming to match Roger Clemens’ streak of 20 consecutive winning outings set in 2001 with the Yankees. It's a lesson that in baseball, having too much starting pitching depth is never really a thing. The early season trade that once looked like an overpay from Milwaukee has shaped up to be another steal on Brewers GM Matt Arnold's resume.