What is the long term plan at catcher for the Red Sox?

With the Pink Sox buying and selling for C/OF Blake Sabol from the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, it appears doubtless that they’re completed including at that place forward of the 2025 season. Relying on how the primary half of the season unfolds, they could take into account including once more close to the commerce deadline, however the group will doubtless go into camp with Connor Wong because the starter and a battle for backup between Sabol and Carlos Narvaez.

Contemplating the Red Sox’ depth of infielders, each on the present roster and within the minors, it might need made extra sense for the Sox to ship a package deal constructed round shortstop Marcelo Mayer in change for Garrett Crochet, somewhat than catcher Kyle Teel. They even may’ve used that transfer as a catalyst towards including a veteran third baseman! However, although the White Sox seemingly already had their catcher of the long run in Edgar Quero, they will need to have most well-liked Teel of the duo. Boston wanted to make that deal both method, however the achieve of a front-of-the-rotation starter in Crochet created the lack of the “catcher of the long run”.

The group now has a big lack of depth within the farm system. Sure, Connor Wong has 4 years remaining earlier than hitting free company, however it isn’t a positive factor that he has a lot of a ceiling past what we’ve got seen so far. He has solely performed two full seasons within the massive leagues however is already coming into his 29-year-old season. Wong hit .280 in 2024, however he lucked out on balls in play, and Statcast gave him a .231 anticipated BA. His defensive grades additionally regressed throughout the board from 2023 to 2024.

Baseball Savant | Connor Wong 2023 vs. 2024

The group selected to commerce for each Carlos Narvaez and Blake Sabol as youthful catchers they hope to work with, somewhat than assault the very weak free-agent market. Danny Jansen’s $8.5M over one 12 months was the best AAV of any catcher in the marketplace this 12 months, and simply in case you forgot, Danny Jansen was simply horrendous in his two months in Boston. After that, Kyle Higashioka (age 35) and Travis d’Arnaud (age 36) bought the one substantial two-year offers. The remaining crew contains James McCann, Yasmani Grandal, Curt Casali, Luke Maile, Elias Diaz, and Martin Maldonado. It’s comprehensible why they selected this route, now that Teel is gone.

It’s uncertain that the subsequent beginning catcher is at the moment within the system – Nathan Hickey’s inventory has taken a dive, Johanfran Garcia has potential however is a 20-year-old in low-A Salem coming off a missed season with an ACL tear, and an ETA of 2028. Brooks Brannon can also be simply in Low-A, and extra prone to transfer off of catcher than not.

They might at all times go the “Teel Route” once more within the draft and take a university catcher with the fifteenth choose within the draft, with the hope of getting him prepared for 2027.

In free company, J.T. Realmuto and Mitch Garver lead a greater free agent class a 12 months from now, however they are going to be 35 and 36 respectively. Realmuto has one thing left within the tank however it’s tough to examine the Pink Sox spending up on the high of the marketplace for any place till we see it occur.

The Pink Sox have provide you with a short-term plan for, no less than, the primary half of 2025 however they should start engaged on a plan for the long run.