The Red Sox have a serious problem behind the plate, and they need to solve it fast.
Boston’s catching situation has become dire with Connor Wong still sidelined by injury after struggling early in the season. The depth chart looks particularly thin after the Sox included top catching prospect Kyle Teel in the Garrett Crochet trade with Chicago.
One intriguing solution? Baltimore’s Samuel Basallo.
Heavy Sports’ Jonathan Vankin suggests the Red Sox could flip All-Star pitcher Tanner Houck to the Orioles for their top prospect now that Brayan Bello has returned to Boston’s rotation.
“But the Red Sox have one serious need — a catcher,” Vankin wrote. “The organization’s catching pipeline offers very little after they traded their top prospect at the position, Kyle Teel, to the Chicago White Sox as part of a package that brought back lefty ace Garrett Crochet.”
Vankin believes the trade makes sense for both sides: “A straight up swap of Houck — who will earn a reasonable $3.95 million this year with two more seasons of team control — for the highly ranked prospect Basallo would serve the needs of both the Red Sox and the Orioles.”
The timing works well. Baltimore needs pitching help for their playoff push, and Boston could offer a 2024 All-Star in Houck. Meanwhile, Basallo ranks as the No. 12 overall prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline. He’s nearly MLB-ready but blocked by Adley Rutschman in Baltimore.
Trading an All-Star pitcher like Houck isn’t an easy decision, but the Red Sox’s catching situation is desperate. Basallo could be their backstop of the future — and possibly even contribute this season if needed.
