According to Chris Cotillo, the Boston Red Sox have a dilemma; what to do at the catcher position. With the arrival of catcher prospect Kyle Teel coming in early 2025, they need to figure out what to do with their current starting catcher, Connor Wong.
Teel was tearing it up in the minors this season, with a .288 average, 13 homers, 23 doubles, and an .819 OPS between AA and AAA.
Wong this season was also a good hitter, something most catchers are not. He was amazing in the first 30 games of the season with a .362 average, but then hit a wall hard, batting .254 for the rest of the season.
Wong was also one of the worst defensive catchers in the league, being in the bottom 10% of framing and blocking.
If the Sox were to make a move, Wong would have to go. He still has a valuable bat which other teams might want, and he still has a year before reaching arbitration.
The Sox would then sign a veteran catcher to a one-year deal, to take over while Teel makes his way to the majors. If Teel makes the Opening Day roster, then the vet would platoon with Teel, mentoring him, and letting Teel slowly take the starting job over the season. Some vets Cotillo listed were Danny Jansen, Gary Sanchez, Yasmani Grandal, Austin Hedges, Elias Diaz, Jacob Stallings, James McCann, and Yan Gomes.
Whatever the Sox do, they should be glad that they have Teel ready to go, and be reassured they have found their franchise catcher.
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