For a front office that has taken plenty of well-deserved slings and arrows for its roster management, landing Carlos Narváez in December in exchange for pitching prospect Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz is a win they will happily take.

Aaron Boone knew Carlos Narváez was a major leaguer. He did not know that when the Yankees traded the young catcher to the Red Sox in December, Narváez would return as Boston’s cleanup hitter and a potential AL All-Star in his rookie season.

Carlos Narvaez was the Red Sox’s cleanup hitter for Friday night’s series opener in the Bronx — his first trip there since the Yankees traded him to Boston in December.