The Boston Red Sox are expected to remain active this offseason after trading the St. Louis Cardinals for 36-year-old hurler Sonny Gray.
The Red Sox are trending in the right direction after reaching the postseason for the first time since 2021 this season. But after a disappointing loss to the New York Yankees, the Red Sox clearly need to make roster adjustments this offseason.
Trading for Gray fulfilled one of the Red Sox’s biggest offseason priorities, bringing in another high-end arm to pair with Garrett Crochet at the top of the rotation. Boston still has question marks heading into next season, with Alex Bregman testing free agency and Triston Casas returning from injury at first base.
Though the Red Sox have clear needs this offseason, surprisingly, the team was linked to Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto in free agency by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Jen McCaffrey. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller, however, harshly criticized the rumored connection.
“Why? Just … why?” Miller wrote Tuesday. “The Red Sox have plenty of needs this offseason. First base and third base are big ones for sure. Arguably second base, too. Middle relief would be nice. One more back-of-the-rotation starter certainly wouldn’t hurt. What they don’t need, though, is another catcher.
“Connor Wong and Carlos Narváez will cost them a combined sum of a little more than $2 million in 2026, and both are under team control through at least 2028. And after increasing payroll considerably with the acquisition of Sonny Gray, can they honestly justify disregarding at least one of their actual needs to instead sign Realmuto to what would be an eight-figure salary as the third catcher on the roster?”
Realmuto is a great player and a three-time All-Star. The 34-year-old has spent the last seven seasons of his career with the Phillies and is projected to sign a two-year, roughly $26 million contract, according to Spotrac. Though he would be a welcome addition to the Red Sox, other positions should be an immediate priority over signing another catcher.
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