Red Sox Eyeing Catcher JT Realmuto
It looks like the Red Sox are keen on bolstering their roster, particularly their catching position.
Boston has shown interest in free agent catcher JT Realmuto. However, reports indicate that the veteran is likely to stay with the Phillies, as hinted by The Athletic.
Bringing Realmuto aboard would be a complementary move for Boston, especially when considering their larger offseason goals of securing a pitcher and a significant hitter—perhaps someone like Pete Alonso—to support Garrett Crochet in the rotation, especially after the potential departure of free agent Alex Bregman.
Last season, former Yankees catcher Carlos Narváez made an impact for the Red Sox, though his performance tapered off toward the end. He boasted a solid .273/.347/.439 batting line with a .786 OPS before the All-Star break, but that plummeted to .187/.233/.387 with a .619 OPS thereafter.
On the other hand, Connor Wong, a veteran right-handed hitter, didn’t fare much better, hitting .190/.262/.238 over 63 games, leaving him with an OPS of just .500 and a BWAR of -0.6.
While Realmuto isn’t quite the All-Star player he once was, at age 34, he ranks seventh among catchers in terms of all-around contributions.
Narváez performed decently last year, finishing with a .257/.315/.384 line, 12 home runs, and 52 RBIs. However, Realmuto would likely surpass Wong in terms of overall skill. His defensive metrics indicate he’s valuable—5.3 defensive rating—but he struggled with framing, scoring a low -9 points, landing near the bottom among catchers.
Despite being an upgrade over Wong, the financial implications and team dynamics might complicate things. Realmuto has predominantly been a starting catcher and may not be open to sharing time. It’s hard to justify moving Narváez, who showed promise last season, into a backup role.
Moreover, Boston has had challenges maintaining hefty salaries from their prime years, and splurging on a non-starter catcher may not be the wisest allocation of resources, especially with high-profile pitchers and hitters available.
Interestingly, the Phillies seem to be a strong candidate to re-sign Realmuto. Their willingness to invest further in free agency could offer him a solid starting position, which might be tempting.
According to reports, the current National League East champions are eager to keep him. It’s noted that Realmuto and his family even own property in Clearwater, Florida, where the Phillies hold their spring training.
