MLB Notebook: Craig Breslow quietly strengthens Red Sox catching pipeline while evaluating external options

The Red Sox are slowly checking off boxes on their offseason checklist, having fortified the starting rotation with three key external additions. The infield picture remains unsettled, with only Trevor Story and Willson Contreras locked into positions ahead of spring training. However, one area the club has quietly worked to upgrade, organizationally, has been behind the plate.

With camp approaching, the Red Sox enter the season with Carlos Narváez and Connor Wong as its major league tandem. On paper, the position is serviceable for 2026, but outside Narváez and Wong, the Sox lack MLB-ready catchers, and the front office has explored ways to elevate the roster in the short term while also keeping an eye toward the future.

Prior to re-signing with the Phillies, the Red Sox were linked to J.T. Realmuto, signaling the front office wanted to, at least on the surface, bring in a veteran to pair with Narváez and work with the rebuilt starting rotation.

Offensively, Realmuto, who turns 35 in March, would have been a nice fit batting in the lower part of the lineup. The veteran hit .257 with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs across 134 games last season while tying for the major league lead with 132 games caught. Over a 12-year career with the Marlins and Phillies, he owns a .270 batting average, 180 home runs, and 677 RBI, long setting the standard for durability and two-way impact at the position.

Boston was also linked to catcher Victor Caratini, but he signed a two-year, $14 million deal with the Twins. He was the second veteran the Red Sox have publicly been connected to this winter. Caratini offers a different defensive profile, one that is designed around blocking versus arm strength behind the dish.

According to Baseball Savant, he ranked in the 72nd percentile in Blocks Above Average but graded lower in controlling the running game, finishing in the 10th percentile in Catcher Stealing Runs Above Average and the 3rd percentile in pop time with an average release of 2.05 seconds. His receiving metrics landed closer to the league average, with a 38th-percentile framing grade.

One thing is clear at the moment: Narváez will enter 2026 on top of the Red Sox’ depth chart with Wong slotted behind him as his backup. The Sox landed Narváez in a trade prior to the 2025 season with the Yankees. 

In his rookie season, Narváez was a pleasant surprise for Boston, playing in 118 games, where he logged 446 plate appearances, hitting .241/.306/.419 with 15 home runs, a .315 wOBA, and a 97 wRC+, according to FanGraphs. Combine that with stellar defense at a demanding position, and that production translated to 2.7 WAR.

Baseball Savant illustrates why Boston felt comfortable pivoting away from the veteran market, at least for the time being. Narváez ranked in the 95th percentile in catcher stealing runs above average and the 99th percentile in pop time (1.86 seconds), giving the Red Sox elite control over the running game. While his blocking (13th percentile) and framing (7th percentile) remain areas for refinement, the arm strength, quick release, and overall athleticism provide a defensive foundation that aligns with how the organization is constructing its pitching staff.

An area of opportunity for Narváez coming into 2026 is limiting the amount of catcher's interference calls that plagued his rookie season. He was involved in two key incidents this summer on back-to-back days against the Phillies. On July 21, with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning, Edmundo Sosa’s check swing made slight contact with Narváez’s glove as the catcher set up to receive the pitch. The home plate umpire initially ruled no interference, but after a crew chief review, the call was overturned. Under Rule 6.01(a), catcher’s interference was assessed, forcing in the winning run and handing the Phillies a walk-off victory.

One night later, Narváez was again penalized—this time for a rare catcher’s balk and interference during a Bryce Harper steal attempt of home. Narváez positioned himself too far forward of the plate, violating Rule 6.01(g), which governs a catcher’s positioning and actions that impede a runner. The infraction resulted in an automatic award of home plate to Harper.

Lost somewhere in the conversation is Wong, who is coming off a difficult 2025 season in which an injury and performance at the plate cost him his starting job. Wong appeared in just 63 games, where he batted a measly .190 with a .500 OPS and eight doubles, while making 52 starts behind the plate. His struggles came one year removed from a breakout 2024 season, when he hit .280/.333/.425 with 13 home runs and a 113 OPS+.

Wong underwent right-hand carpal boss excision surgery following the season, a factor that could have contributed to his offensive regression. If he remains healthy, Wong is a viable backup with a track record of leading a big league staff.

Beyond the major league roster, Boston has gone out of its way to add meaningful organizational depth. The Red Sox acquired Ronny Hernández from the White Sox for left-hander Chris Murphy early on in the offseason.

Hernández isn’t necessarily a lock to remain behind the plate while in the system. He’s seen some time at first base while in the White Sox’ organization. According to his SoxProspects scouting report, Hernández has an inconsistent arm, and his offensive profile stands out more than on the defensive side of the dish.

The Sox added another catcher when the club acquired Johan Oviedo from the Pirates. Boston acquired Adonys Guzmán, who appeared in just one game in the minors last season. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in the game. The 22-year-old was a fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft. Guzmán is listed at 5’11 and 221 pounds and has been praised for his defensive abilities. There’s some potential with his bat, showcasing some pop and plate discipline in college, walking 64 times to just 70 strikeouts.

Guzmán is an “intriguing catching prospect with a defense-first profile,” according to SoxProspects. “Has the type of defensive ability that could carry him to the high minors in short order. Upside will be determined by how much he hits.”

Boston also traded for catching prospect Luke Heyman from the Mariners for right-handed pitcher Alex Hoppe. Seattle drafted Heyman in the 14th round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of the University of Florida. He did not make his professional debut last season because he was recovering from a fractured forearm that shortened his final season with the Gators.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-handed hitter batted. 301/.397/.578 with 13 homers, seven doubles, one triple, and 44 RBIs in 49 games this past spring before landing on the injured list.

Baseball America ranked Heyman as the No. 127 prospect in the 2025 draft, but he fell to 422nd and ultimately signed for a $230,000 bonus.

“Heyman offers plus raw power and improving swing decisions,” BA wrote in its pre-draft scouting report. “He generates carry and lift to the pull side, even on pitches thrown on the outer half of the zone. While Heyman struggled somewhat with off-speed pitches, particularly changeups, he crushed velocity—a byproduct of solid bat speed and rhythm. He stays balanced through his swing and can punish mistakes over the plate.”

On the defensive side, Baseball America believes Heyman has a strong chance to remain behind the plate.

“Scouts believe he has a chance to stick behind the plate thanks to above-average arm strength and improved receiving and blocking. He presented pitches more cleanly than in years past and showed a feel for handling a staff.”

Boston has lacked significant depth at the catcher position in the minors. Johanfran Garcia returned from a knee injury last season, and Gerardo Rodriguez emerged while splitting time between rookie ball and Single A. Rodriguez hit .285 with three homers and 43 RBIs between the two affiliates in 69 games. 

Jorge Rodriguez, 19, has spent the last two summers in the Sox system and is knocking on the door of Single-A Salem. He hit .289 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 28 games in rookie ball.

The Sox signed veteran catcher Jason Delay, who will start the season with Triple-A Worcester. If Boston were to add another veteran, Wong could be optioned back to Worcester, allowing him to get regular at-bats as he looks to get back on the 26-man roster.

Boston’s depth expanded deeper this week after the club traded in Tristan Gray to the Twins in exchange for catcher Nate Baez, a move that also cleared a 40-man roster spot for Ranger Suárez. Baez, 24, brings a versatile right-handed bat with experience at both catcher and first base, aligning with the organization’s preference for flexibility at a physically demanding position.

Baez split the 2025 season between High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita, batting .278/.371/.423 with a .794 OPS across 96 games. A 12th-round selection (No. 354 overall) out of Arizona State in the 2022 MLB Draft, Baez earned a non-roster invitation to spring training after showing consistent plate discipline and contact skills as he climbed the system.

While Baez logged nearly equal time at catcher (368-plus innings) and first base (367-plus innings) last season—along with nine starts at designated hitter—his professional career has been anchored primarily behind the plate. Across four minor league seasons, he’s accumulated more than 932 innings at catcher and 684 at first base, giving Boston another option capable of absorbing innings and covering multiple roles.

The Red Sox have also continued to explore upside plays at the position. Boston has been connected to Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing, and according to a source, the club attempted to acquire him during the 2025 season but was unable to get a deal done with the Dodgers. Rushing entered 2025 as the Dodgers’ top prospect and made his major league debut in May, though he struggled to adjust over an extended sample.

If Boston is still looking for a veteran backstop, Breslow could look to free agent Mitch Garver, who became a free agent this winter after the Mariners declined his $12 million mutual option. The 34-year-old catcher hit just .187 in two seasons in Seattle but has power potential. Old friend Reese McGuire is a free agent, but reports circulated this weekend that he is not a target of the Red Sox. Rangers free agent catcher Jonah Heim is still available and is coming off a season where he hit .213/.271/.332 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI in 433 plate appearances.

Overall, the Red Sox catching situation, at least from an organizational lens, is deeper than last season. The Red Sox are continuing to explore ways to deepen their 26-man roster, and additional catching help might be on the way in the coming weeks. Boston is banking on Narváez putting together a strong sophomore campaign while looking to see if Wong can rebound. The catching pipeline has been reinforced with young prospects that offer upside and some versatility. The Red Sox are looking at short-term plays while positioning the organization with a deeper talent pool.

Breslow has made a ton of noise building his pitching staff while quietly giving his catching depth a facelift up and down the organization.

AROUND THE LEAGUE

The New York Mets made a major splash this week, acquiring Brewers ace Freddy Peralta in a headline-grabbing trade aimed at stabilizing a rotation that fell below expectations last season. 

The price tag the Mets had to pay to land Peralta was steep. New York sent infield prospect Jett Williams and right-handed starter Brandon Sproat to Milwaukee, while also receiving starter Tobias Myers as part of the deal.

Peralta arrives in Queens fresh off a career year in 2025. He was named an All-Star for the second time and finished fifth in National League Cy Young voting. Peralta led the NL in wins, going 17–6, while posting a 2.70 ERA—the fourth-best mark in the league.

The righty missed bats at an elite level, striking out 204 hitters in 176 2/3 innings for a 10.4 K/9, marking his third consecutive season with 200-plus strikeouts. The performance translated to 5.5 bWAR in his age-29 season, highlighting both his durability and top-of-the-rotation impact. Peralta is one of just two pitchers in MLB to record 200 or more strikeouts in each of the past three seasons, joining new Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease.

For the Mets, acquiring Peralta, addresses a glaring weakness. The starting rotation was an Achilles heel in 2025, and Peralta raises the club’s floor while joining the Kodai Senga, who has two years and $30 million remaining on his contract. Senga has managed only 118 2/3 innings over the past two seasons, limited to various injuries. 

With Peralta in the fold and leading the rotation, the Mets have another bright spot in Nolan McLean. He burst on the scene last year with a 2.06 ERA and 2.97 FIP across 48 innings over eight starts. McLean is close to a lock to open the season in the rotation and could push to be the club’s No. 2 starter.

Durability issues plagued the Mets' starting staff throughout the course of the year. David Peterson led the Mets in innings at 168 2/3, followed by Clay Holmes (165 2/3) and Senga (113 2/3)—underscoring why adding a reliable innings-eater like Peralta was a priority.

With the rotation taking shape, the Mets can be patient with Jonah Tong, stashing the 22-year-old in Triple-A to make consistent starts before contributing at the major league level. Tong flashed the upside that earned him Mets Minor League Pitcher of the Year, but he struggled in a brief MLB sample, posting a 7.71 ERA across five outings. Despite the results, Tong dominated the minors, and his over-the-top delivery and four-pitch mix have drawn comparisons to Tim Lincecum.

From a Brewers’ perspective, Sproat is a controllable young starter for the mid-market National League club. He posted a 4.79 ERA in four starts last September with the Mets, though his 2.80 FIP tells a more encouraging story. Sproat brings a rare seven-pitch arsenal and above-average raw stuff. His fastball averaged 96.0 mph, which would have ranked in the 78th percentile among MLB starters had he qualified, and he was the only Mets starter last season to touch 99.0 mph.

Sproat generated just a 15.1% swing-and-miss rate, the lowest among 286 MLB starters (minimum 50 swings against). While he limited damage—posting a 50% ground-ball rate and allowing just two barrels on 58 batted balls—missing more bats will be key to unlocking sustained success. In his brief cameo, Sproat induced just one swing-and-miss on his four-seamer and only two on his changeup, a pitch that had been one of his top whiff weapons in the minors.

If Milwaukee can unlock more strikeouts, the long-term upside remains significant—but for now, the Mets are the ones betting on proven, Cy Young-caliber production at the top of their rotation.

J-RAM EXTENSION

The Cleveland Guardians have reached agreement on a contract extension with third baseman José Ramírez, ensuring the franchise cornerstone remains in Cleveland for the remainder of his career.

Ramírez, 33, had three years and $69 million remaining on the extension he signed in 2022. The new deal expands that commitment into a seven-year, $175 million contract running through the 2032 season.

According to ESPN, the agreement includes a full no-trade clause, annual salaries of $25 million from 2026–32, and $10 million deferred each season, with deferred payments beginning in 2036. The contract also features additional perks, including private jet travel for All-Star Game appearances and an extra hotel room on road trips.

In 13 major league seasons, Ramírez has been named an All-Star seven times, tied for the second-most selections in Guardians history alongside Hall of Famers Lou Boudreau, Larry Doby, and Bob Lemon, as well as Ken Keltner. Only Bob Feller (eight) has more.

A six-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Ramírez owns a career slash line of .279/.353/.504 with 398 doubles, 285 home runs, 949 RBIs, and 287 stolen bases. He is closing in on a rare milestone, sitting just shy of becoming the ninth player in MLB history to reach 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases, a feat he could accomplish as early as the 2026 season.