Red Sox Discussing Deal With Top Available Defensive Catcher

With less than a month to go until Spring Training, the Boston Red Sox's 2023 roster is starting to take shape. Most of the team's offseason needs have been addressed in some form or fashion, offering hope for a more competitive season after 2022's last-place finish.

One area where the Red Sox could still use some help is behind the plate, however. None of the options there are particularly appealing, which isn't surprising after the team traded away Christian Vazquez last summer.

Despite already having three potential catchers on the roster in Reese McGuire, Connor Wong and Jorge Alfaro, Boston is considering adding another receiver as well.

Red Sox Free Agency Rumors

The Red Sox are reportedly in talks with free-agent catcher Roberto Perez, who could bring some stability and a veteran presence to the position.

Perez, 34, has nine MLB seasons under his belt, the first eight of which were spent with the Cleveland Guardians before signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates last year. Perez primarily served as Yan Gomes' backup in Cleveland but broke out when he finally got the chance to play everyday in 2019, bashing 24 home runs in 119 games and earning his first Gold Glove.

He won another Gold Glove in 2020, but his offense regressed sharply that year and hasn't recovered. With a career .207/.298/.360 batting line, he's clearly a defensive specialist at this point.

While that has some value, it's not what Boston needs right now. The Red Sox desperately need offense behind the plate, not another light-hitting catcher. They already have enough of those and would be better off spending their money and roster space elsewhere.