Danny Jansen’s stay with the Red Sox has proven brief.
The former Red Sox catcher, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Toronto Blue Jays this past summer, has agreed to a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, according to multiple reports. He becomes the first Red Sox free agent to sign with another club this winter, and the Rays will be the third different AL East team Jansen has suited up for.
Catcher Danny Jansen and the Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a one-year, $8.5 million contract that includes a mutual option for a second season, sources tell ESPN. Jansen, who has played in Toronto and Boston, remains in the AL East. On it: @ByRobertMurray and @TBTimes_Rays.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 6, 2024
The Red Sox traded for Jansen in hopes that he could provide a serviceable right-handed bat off the bench while offering more production than incumbent back-up catcher Reese McGuire while complementing Connor Wong. Though he was an upgrade over McGuire, Jansen didn’t produce much, batting .188 with three home runs, six RBI and a .623 OPS in 30 games following his arrival.
The most noteworthy aspect of his time in Boston came on Aug. 26, when he became the first player in MLB history to suit up for both teams in the same game. Jansen started at catcher for the Blue Jays in the clubs’ rain-suspended game on June 26, and by the time the game resumed two months later Jansen had been traded.
Given Boston’s larger roster needs and the pending arrival of top catching prospect Kyle Teel, it wouldn’t have made sense for the Red Sox to bring Jansen back at the price he got from the Rays. Still, Jansen’s departure leaves the Red Sox with a void at catcher that will need to be addressed in the coming weeks.
Wong, not much else
Connor Wong is the only catcher on the Red Sox’s 40-man roster. The long-term plan remains to eventually elevate Teel into a tandem with Wong, but given that the 22-year-old still has only 28 games at Triple-A under his belt, the club would likely prefer to bring in a veteran on a short-term deal who can hold down the fort until Teel is ready.
Internally, the club doesn’t have many options. The best one right now is veteran journeyman Seby Zavala, who the Red Sox recently signed to a minor league deal. Zavala has played 194 games over five MLB seasons with the White Sox, Mariners and Diamondbacks, and his best season came in 2022, when he batted .270 with a .729 OPS in 61 games with Chicago.
Last season Zavala appeared in 18 big league games with Arizona, batting .154 with a .496 OPS.
Other than Zavala and Teel, Boston’s other internal candidates are Mickey Gasper and Nathan Hickey. Gasper has lately played primarily infield and did not record a hit in his 13-game big league cameo last fall, and Hickey played significant time at first base and DH last season and has yet to make his MLB debut.
Fast moving market
Even if most of the offseason’s biggest names remain unsigned, the market for catchers has proven quite active.
In addition to Jansen, numerous other catchers who might have been candidates for Boston have already found homes for 2025. Among the notable names, Kyle Higashioka signed with the Rangers, Travis d’Arnaud with the Angels, Jacob Stallings with the Rockies and Austin Hedges with the Guardians.
Some of the top remaining options include Carson Kelly, Gary Sanchez, Yasmani Grandal and James McCann, all of whom are right-handed hitting veterans coming off reasonably productive seasons who could slot into the role envisioned for Jansen.
Another option is Martin Maldonado, who did not play the second half last season after being released by the White Sox but who has reportedly expressed a desire to play one more season. The 38-year-old is a complete non-factor offensively but has always been a standout on defense, and he could also provide valuable mentorship for Wong and Teel.
Whoever the Red Sox add, it probably won’t be a big name. But even if it’s not as pressing a concern as upgrading the starting rotation or the club’s pursuit of Juan Soto, finding a serviceable stopgap who can give Teel the time he needs to develop will be a crucial item on Boston’s to-do list this offseason.
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