The Red Sox have a batting lineup that can give pitchers fits from nearly top to bottom. But there’s one glaring weakness right now: catcher.
Connor Wong opened the season behind the plate for Boston, but he’s sidelined with a broken pinky finger that’ll keep him out for an extended period. That’s created an urgent need that could push the Sox into the trade market sooner rather than later.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller suggests Boston should target one of the Contreras brothers – both All-Stars with very different situations.
William Contreras is the younger, cheaper option with multiple years left on his deal. The problem? He’s currently with the contending Brewers, who likely have little interest in moving their backstop while they’re competing.
Willson Contreras might be the more realistic target. He’s under contract through 2028 but has been catching less frequently for the Cardinals lately. With St. Louis trending toward a rebuild, they’re more likely to consider moving him than Milwaukee would be with his brother.
There’s also a familiar face who could be available. Christian Vazquez, who spent parts of eight seasons with Boston before being traded in 2022, is currently with the Twins and could potentially return to his former club.
Time is of the essence
The Red Sox front office obviously has the most accurate information on Wong’s recovery timeline. But in the competitive AL East, where every game matters, waiting too long could be costly.
Boston’s lineup is dangerous enough to keep them in contention, but the catching situation threatens to become a significant liability if left unaddressed. What makes this particularly challenging is that quality catchers are among the hardest pieces to acquire mid-season.
The Sox might need to act quickly if they want to keep pace with the Yankees, Orioles and Rays in what’s shaping up to be baseball’s toughest division. A proactive move for one of these catchers could be the difference between making the playoffs or watching from home in October.
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