Throughout the offseason, we'll periodically give a detailed look at one position on the Red Sox roster.
Today: Catcher
Since 2014, the Red Sox catching position involved Christian Vazquez. Beginning that season, Vazquez played 55 games or more in every full season -- with the exception of 2015, which he missed having undergone Tommy John surgery. But Vazquez was traded to the Houston Astros last Aug. 1, and that opened the catching spot to others for the remainder of the season.
Three catchers handled the chores behind the plate in the final two months, with Kevin Plawecki eventually designated for assignment in mid-September.
MAJOR LEAGUE OPTIONS
Reese McGuire
Age: 28 in March
Status: Under control, not yet eligible for salary arbitration.
Comment: Acquired the day after Vazquez was dealt to help fill out the roster, McGuire proved a pleasant surprise over the final two months, slashing .337/.3777/.500 over 50 games with the Sox. It's highly unlikely he can maintain that level of production in a full season, but he did impress with his ability to take the ball the other way and use the whole field. Long-term, McGuire lacks power, but in a rebuilt lineup, that shouldn't be an issue. He also showed that he can control the running game, throwing out 5-of-12 (47 percent) would-be base stealers. As a receiver, he's slightly above average and pitchers praised his game-calling.
Future: As a lefthanded-hitting catcher, it's easy to envision McGuire being part of some sort of platoon behind the plate. It's slightly harder to see him as the No. 1, at least in 2023, but stranger things have happened.
Connor Wong
Age: 26
Status: Under control, not yet eligible for salary arbitration.
Comment: One of the reasons the Sox moved on from the popular Plawecki in September was to provide more playing time for Wong. In 27 games, he slashed .188/.273/.313 -- hardly enough of a sample size to make any definitive judgments about his offensive ability. The Red Sox have always valued his athleticism behind the plate, though his arm strength is viewed as fringe-average. He has the ability to play other infield spots, but in the last two years, the Red Sox have essentially limited him to catching duties. He showed a massive power spike in August at Worcester, with nine homers in 16 games, though it's clear whether that can be duplicated at the major league level.
Future: Would a duo of McGuire and Wong cut it for the Red Sox in 2023? That would seem a last resort, and Chaim Bloom seemed to confirm that in his season-ending press conference, noting that he'd be looking to add catching in the offseason. It would seem that Wong might benefit from a little more development time at Triple A to start next season, though a spot on the major league roster can't be ruled out.
40-MAN ROSTER DEPTH OPTIONS
Ronaldo Hernandez: Obtained in a trade with Tampa Bay two years ago, Hernandez had a breakout season at Worcester, belting 17 homers and slugging .451 in 105 games. Though he's said to have good arm strength, he threw out only 25 percent of opposing baserunners. The real issue with Hernandez is his receiving, which continues to need improvement.
Caleb Hamilton: Claimed off waivers earlier this month from Minnesota, Hamilton is an offense-first catcher who's slugged at the minor league level, but struggled mightily in a call-up with the Twins. Hamilton turns 28 in February, and even for a catcher, that means it's getting late for him.
MINOR LEAGUE INVENTORY:
Nathan Hickey: A fifth-round pick out of the University of Florida in 2021, Hickey enjoyed an impressive 2022, splitting time between Low A Salem and High A Greenville. Another offense-first catcher with good power from the left side, belting 16 homers with a .936 OPS in 75 games. Still raw from a defensive perspective, he needs work on his catching and pitch-blocking skills. ETA: 2025.
Brooks Brannon: A ninth-round selection in last summer's draft, Bannon had a terrific high school career and had been a UNC commit. He's shown plus raw power but remains very raw at 18 with a lot of development still to come. ETA: 2026
Stephen Scott: One of two infielder/outfielders converted to catcher by the Red Sox, Scott is currently playing in the Arizona Fall League. He showed decent power between Greenville and Double A Portland (10 homers in 96 games), but has a lot of catching up to do behind the plate. ETA: 2025
POTENTIAL FREE AGENT TARGETS
Christian Vazquez: A reunion can't be ruled out, and Vazquez told the Boston Globe Tuesday that he would welcome one. A lot could depend on his asking price. If the Red Sox could get him on a two-year deal at a reasonable base, he could return. It's not as if he enhanced his leverage in Houston, where his playing time was surprisingly limited.
Mike Zunino: Zunino is familiar to Bloom from their time together at Tampa Bay. He missed most of last season after undergoing surgery to repair thoracic outlet syndrome on his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He offers plus-power (33 homers in 2021) and has thrown out 27 percent of base-stealers over his career.
POTENTIAL TRADE TARGETS
Sean Murphy, Oakland A's: Teams who inquired about Murphy at last summer's deadline were shocked at the asking price, so the A's won't give up cheaply. But that's to be expected for a catcher who's already won a Gold Glove and last year posted a .759 OPS with 18 homers. As usual, Oakland is willing to move him as he becomes arbitration-eligible and earns some money.
Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers: And if you thought Murphy was expensive....Smith is an even higher valued catcher, with an .856 OPS and 49 homers over the last two seasons. Why would the Dodgers be willing to move him? They have one of the game's best catching prospects (Diego Cartaya) and even the free-spending Dodgers have to be mindful of payroll.