The Boston Red Sox’s big offseason moves are done, but the team could still look to make minor moves to fill out the rest of its roster.
Boston traded for starting pitchers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, while signing Ranger Suarez, and the team also traded for first baseman Willson Contreras. However, the Red Sox have been linked to adding a catcher to the mix.
The Red Sox currently have Carlos Narvaez and Connor Wong projected as their catchers, and insider Chris Cotillo of MassLive expects the team to sign a veteran to a minor-league deal to compete for a roster spot in spring training.
“As MassLive has reported, Boston has been poking around the catching market for much of the last year, looking at both long-term projects and short-term depth upgrades,” Cotillo wrote for MassLive, in a piece published on Wednesday. “Those efforts will remain ongoing. The safe bet, in the interim, is that they will add a veteran catcher on a minor league deal to serve as depth at Triple-A.
“Right now, non-roster invitee Jason Delay is the third option with Nate Baez, Nathan Hickey and Ronald Rosario all in camp, too. But old friend Christian Vázquez remains a free agent along with Elias Diaz, Mitch Garver, Jacob Stallings, Gary Sánchez and Matt Thaiss. Expect the Red Sox to float minor league deals to players in that bucket in hopes of adding depth.”
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As Cotillo notes, there are plenty of veteran catchers with MLB experience still unsigned who could take a minor-league deal to compete for a roster spot.
It would also be a no-risk move for Boston, as if whoever they bring in doesn’t beat out one of Narvaez or Wong, the Red Sox can enter the season with their current tandem.
Pitchers and catchers will report on Feb. 10 for the Red Sox, with the first full team workout on Feb. 15.
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