Angels acquire INF/OF Matthew Lugo, RHP Ryan Zeferjahn, INF Niko Kavadas and RHP Yeferson Vargas from Boston
ANAHEIM - The Angels today acquired INF/OF Matthew Lugo, RHP Ryan Zeferjahn, INF Niko Kavadas and RHP Yeferson Vargas from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for RHP Luis Garc¨ªa.
Lugo, 23, is ranked as Boston's #17 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline and as their #20 overall prospect by Baseball America. Lugo has batted .285 (77/270) with 20 doubles, four triples, and 16 home runs across 78 games with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. He began the season with Double-A Portland and batted .315 (46/146) with a 1.069 OPS, and was named Eastern League Player of the Week for the week of April 21 before his promotion to Triple A. With Worcester, Lugo batted .250 (31/124) with 15 extra-base hits and nine multi-hit games.
From Manati, Puerto Rico, Lugo was originally selected by Boston in the second round of the 2019 Draft. Lugo was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star with Boston in 2022, and the South Atlantic League Player of the Month for August 2022.
Zeferjahn, 26, made 25 appearances in 2024 between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, going 1-3 with a 3.52 ERA (38.1 IP - 15 ER) and 53 strikeouts. He began the year with Double-A Portland and posted a 0.00 ERA (13.2 IP - 0 ER) with 22 strikeouts with the Sea Dogs before being promoted. Since joining Triple-A Worcester, Zeferjahn posted a 5.47 ERA (24.2 IP - 15 ER) and 31 strikeouts across 18 games (one start). Zeferjahn has held opponents scoreless in 18 of 25 outings this season, and pitched in multiple innings in 16 appearances.
A native of Topeka, Kansas, Zeferjahn was originally selected by the Red Sox in the third round of the 2019 Draft out of the University of Kansas.
Kavadas, 25, has appeared in 83 games this season for Triple-A Worcester and has totaled 20 doubles, 17 home runs, 63 RBI and an International League leading .975 OPS. He also ranks third in the International League in OBP (.424), is tied for fifth in RBI, sixth in slugging (.551) and tied for sixth with 58 walks. The South Bend, IN native was Boston's 11th round selection in the 2021 Draft out of the University of Notre Dame. In four minor league seasons, he owns a career. 920 OPS with 65 doubles, 67 home runs, 224 RBI and 273 walks across 335 games.
Vargas, 19, has made 11 appearances (four starts) between the FCL Red Sox and Single-A Salem this season, compiling a 4-2 record and 3.03 ERA (35.2 IP - 12 ER) with 34 strikeouts. Vargas began his second professional season with the FCL Red Sox this year, and went 4-2 with a 3.13 ERA (31.2 IP - 11 ER) with 29 strikeouts before being promoted. He made one start with Single-A Salem, and pitched four innings and surrendered two runs (one earned) on two hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Born in San Pedro de Macor¨ªs, Dominican Republic, Vargas signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent on June 3, 2023.
Garc¨ªa, 37, played in 45 games in his second stint with the Angels in 2024 and posted a 5-1 record and 3.71 ERA (43.2 IP - 18 ER) with four saves and 40 strikeouts. Garc¨ªa signed a one-year contract with the Angels on December 13, 2023.