The Boston Red Sox haven’t been shy this offseason, and Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow has made it clear how he likes to operate: through trades. Whether it’s retooling the pitching staff or shoring up the lineup, Breslow’s been aggressive-and he’s not done yet.
So far, the Red Sox have swung deals for Sonny Gray, Johan Oviedo, and Willson Contreras. But the front office isn’t just looking at big names-they’re zeroing in on depth, too.
One position still under the microscope? Catcher.
Specifically, finding a stronger complement to Carlos Narváez.
Connor Wong is still penciled in as the backup, but his grip on that role is anything but firm. After a disappointing season in which he posted just a .500 OPS across 63 games, the Red Sox are actively exploring alternatives.
Wong did show more promise in 2024, and there’s always a chance he rebounds. Still, with spring training fast approaching, the club is keeping its options open.
According to recent reports, Boston explored free-agent options like J.T. Realmuto and Victor Caratini before they signed elsewhere. Now, attention has turned to the trade market-and one name that’s surfaced is Dalton Rushing, currently backing up Will Smith in Los Angeles.
Rushing, once the Dodgers’ top prospect, hasn’t had much opportunity to showcase his potential at the big-league level. With Smith locked into a 10-year, $140 million extension and Shohei Ohtani occupying the designated hitter spot for the foreseeable future, Rushing’s path to regular at-bats in L.A. is effectively blocked. That makes him a valuable trade chip-and a potentially intriguing fit for Boston.
He didn’t exactly light it up during his limited rookie campaign, slashing .204/.258/.324 over 53 games. But those numbers don’t tell the whole story. Rushing’s raw tools and upside are still very much intact, and with consistent playing time, there’s belief he could develop into a legitimate contributor behind the plate.
The Red Sox have reportedly been working this angle for a while. Their search for a reliable partner to pair with Narváez dates back to last summer. They even reached out to the White Sox about reacquiring Kyle Teel, a former Boston prospect, before turning their attention to other options like Rushing.
Meanwhile, Willson Contreras-who spent much of last season at first base-is open to catching again. But the Red Sox appear to prefer keeping him at first and in the DH rotation, rather than putting more wear and tear on his body behind the plate.
That leaves a clear opening for someone like Rushing to step in, learn the ropes in a lower-pressure role, and grow into a bigger piece of Boston’s future. He wouldn’t be expected to carry the load right away, but he could bring some much-needed depth and upside to a catching corps that still feels unsettled.
With just a few weeks until pitchers and catchers report, the Sox are still tweaking the roster-and the search for a dependable backup catcher is very much alive. Whether it’s Rushing or another name, don’t be surprised if Breslow has one more move up his sleeve.
