DALLAS — While pitching and right-handed pop represent the Red Sox’ most pressing needs, they’re also in the market for some depth behind the plate.
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Boston continues to look for a backup catcher as insurance behind Connor Wong, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said Monday, and could ramp up their efforts on that front in the coming days. The catching market has been extremely fast-moving so far this offseason, leaving teams like the Red Sox with few options left on the board in mid-December. But the club remains engaged with who’s left.
The Red Sox have expressed interest in veteran James McCann, according to a baseball source, though they’re not alone as McCann is believed to have at least four offers already on the table. Other veteran free agents who remain unsigned include Yasmani Grandal and Elias Díaz, though it’s unclear if the Sox are involved with either. Trade options are also on the table.
Boston wants a capable veteran who can split time with Wong until top prospect Kyle Teel is ready to debut at some point in 2025. Teel is a longshot to make the Opening Day roster after playing just 28 games at Triple-A but could be a factor in the first half of the season. Either way, the Red Sox want some insurance. Journeyman Seby Zavala, who signed a minor league deal last month, likely isn’t an option to make the Opening Day roster.
“I think finding the right complement and right backup to Connor is something we are prioritizing,” Breslow said. “Whether that comes via free agency or trade, we’ll determine. We’re also super excited about what we think Kyle Teel can be, but want to make sure we’re not putting so much pressure on someone who hasn’t set foot on a big league field yet.”
Wong started 99 games for the Red Sox in 2024 and had two different light-hitting backups behind him. For the first four months, it was Reese McGuire, who started 41 times. After the trade deadline, it was Danny Jansen, who made 22 starts. To start, McGuire was a left-handed complement to the right-handed Wong; Boston swapped out McGuire for Jansen at the deadline in large part because they wanted another right-handed hitter on the bench in a group of position players that was heavy on left-handed hitters.
Handedness isn’t as important in Boston’s search now, but defense is. Wong graded out as one of the worst defensive backstops in baseball in 2024 and the Red Sox have vowed that he’ll be better next year.
“I don’t know if it’s left-handed (that we want or it has to be a left-handed hitter),” said manager Alex Cora. “Last year we went both ways with Reese and then with Danny.
“I think the defensive part of it is something important. It’s something that we’re not hiding from. We have to be better. I think Connor is putting in the work to clean a few things up, and we feel good about him. Obviously, having somebody that can help him would be very important. Especially in the defensive part of it.”
The Red Sox weren’t in the market for the top available catchers this winter because they couldn’t offer a great playing time situation and didn’t want to make high-dollar offers with Wong on the roster and Teel on the way. Kyle Higashioka (Rangers), Jansen (Rays), Travis d’Arnaud (Angels), Austin Hedges (Guardians), Gary Sánchez (Orioles) and Jacob Stallings (Rockies) are off the board and Carson Kelly is nearing a deal with the Cubs.
“My guess is (the market moved) because there were more teams in need of catching than there were available catchers,” Breslow said. “That was the demographic that moved really, really quickly.”
