Should Minnesota Twins Buy Low on Red Sox's Demoted Catcher?

[Cody Schoenmann]

Image courtesy of © Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Entering the 2025 MLB regular season, the Boston Red Sox's catching plan was clear: Connor Wong would serve as the club's primary catcher, while offseason addition Carlos Narváez would mix in as his backup. That was the case from Mar. 27 through Apr. 7, with Wong netting seven starts at the position, compared to Narváez's five. Despite hitting a lousy .087/.192/.087 with a -21 wRC+ in 26 plate appearances to begin his 2025 campaign, Wong was slated to continue receiving the bulk of opportunities behind the dish for a while. However, the 29-year-old was placed on the 10-day IL with a left pinkie fracture, making Narváez the club's primary starting catcher in his absence.

Narváez failed to seize on his opportunity at first, hitting a measly .175/.200/.333 with a 38 wRC+ over 65 plate appearances in Wong's absence. However, here is how the two catchers have performed since Wong returned from the injured list on May 2:

• Wong - .179/.289/.179, 45 plate appearances, seven hits, zero doubles, zero home runs, 22.2% strikeout rate, 38 wRC+
• Narváez - .336/.437/.523, 126 plate appearances, 36 hits, 11 doubles, three home runs, 24.6% strikeout rate, 170 wRC+

While performing exponentially better than Wong at the plate over 81 more plate appearances during that stretch, Narváez has also outperformed Wong defensively, ranking fourth in MLB in Catcher Framing Runs and Blocks Above Average. One of the best receivers in baseball, Narváez has also blossomed into the AL catcher best at mitigating stolen bases, ranking first in the AL in Caught Stealing Above Average. Naturally, though, as Narváez has seized the spotlight, Wong has drifted into the shadows.

Wong's subpar 2025 campaign is disappointing, especially considering his breakout 2024 season, wherein he hit .280/.333/.425 with 125 hits, 24 doubles, 13 home runs, a 23.4% strikeout rate, and a 110 wRC+ over 487 plate appearances. Even then, though, the 28-year-old's 110 wRC+ had to push against the negative value of being one of the worst defensive catchers in baseball, generating -13 blocks above average and -7 Catcher Framing Runs. In a total reversal, even as he's become one of the worst hitters in baseball this season, Wong has surprisingly turned his defensive fortunes, generating 3 Blocks Above Average and 1 Catcher Framing Run. He also boasts a plus arm.

Again, Wong has been horrendous at the plate this season. However, if he could return to his 2024 form at the plate while continuing to provide above-average defense, he could yet again function as an MLB-caliber starting catcher. With Narváez expected to earn the bulk of opportunities behind the plate for Boston in the foreseeable future, Wong likely won't get the consistent plate appearances necessary to shake off his slow start. With the former starting catcher stuck in limbo with his current team, Minnesota could be wise to buy low, especially considering the club's long-term outlook at the position.

With veteran Christian Vázquez in the final season of the three-year, $30-million contract he signed before the 2023 season, current primary catcher Ryan Jeffers is the only MLB-caliber slated to be on the 26-man roster next year. Jair Camargo and (dare I say) Mickey Gasper are other 40-man roster inhabitants who could function as Jeffers's backstop to begin next season. However, entering a 162-game campaign with Camargo or Gasper one injury away from becoming a full-time starter would be a bleak outlook. Catching prospect Noah Cardenas was recently promoted to Triple-A St. Paul, after posting a 136 wRC+ over 127 plate appearances at Double-A. That said, his struggles at the plate with St. Paul (37 wRC+ over 15 plate appearances) suggest any aspirations of him becoming a viable backup catcher at the major-league level in the near future are fuzzy.

Next season's backup catcher does not appear to be in the organization. Since Wong can still be optioned to the minors for the rest of this year, Minnesota could acquire him and demote to Triple-A to work through his issues at the plate, while Jeffers and Vázquez continue to split duties at the position for the rest of the season. Rostering backup catchers with MLB experience in Blake Sabol and Seby Zavala at Triple-A, Boston possesses the positional depth necessary to mitigate a Wong departure. Also, if Boston is hesitant to entrust Sabol or Zavala as Narváez's backup, Minnesota and Boston could execute a low-stakes challenge trade of sorts, flipping Wong for Camargo, who appeared in a major-league game last season.

As Vázquez's impending departure from Minnesota nears, the organization needs to begin considering how the position will look beyond Jeffers, next season and beyond. Twins decision-makers would be wise to be proactive in attempting to solve potential depth concerns at the position by acquiring an MLB-caliber backstop before the July 31 trade deadline. With Wong sputtering in Boston and Narváez blossoming into the club's primary backstop, the organization could be willing to move on. If so, Minnesota should consider acquiring the 29-year-old backstop, allowing him to work through his offensive struggles in Triple-A with the hope of being able to enter next season as Jeffers's new partner behind the dish.

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[Doctor Gast]

Boston has one of the worst catching unit in the MLB. I wouldn't even think about their rejects. Vazquez is a much better catcher than Wong. The $ saved isn't worth the wild gamble on Wong. The focus should be making the team better not Pohlads saving $.

I commend you for addressing this problem. But I'm looking for a much better option, more of the catcher of the future.

[sun]

Acquiring Wong would seem to be a nightmare scenario, a streaky fly by night non-MLB viable catcher that won't be able to hold his own.  If he can't professionally hit & catch by now then leave him where he lies. Goodness gracious sakes alive. Please sign a game ready pro & not someone from the scrap heap.

[nicksaviking]

I'm not trading for a catcher unless it's a top end offensive talent. And at that point, it probably gets too expensive. And I'm not trading for a backup catcher; 99% of the time that's a zero impact player in every era of the game.

If there is any team that understands by now that it's a negligible difference between a below-average catcher and what's floating around on the waiver wire, it should be the Twins.

[CRF]

They'll throw Gasper in there first, before they'd even think about a trade. 

[Althebum82]

Let's put it this way......if the Red Sox wanted to straight up trade Wong for Cardenas, Winkels, or Gasper I feel the Twins are better off declining.  While they may each have their shortcomings, they do to me each have a glimpse of a promise of contributing at the big league level.  

I am not convinced that is the case with Wong.

Sorry, ex-Red Sox catching sort of leaves a bad taste in my mouth right now.

By the way, it should be noted that the Twins made a good call on letting go of Chris Williams, part time catcher who spent several seasons in Saint Paul.  He has performed horribly for the Mets at Syracuse and is presently not active and on their "development list".  

[CoachDW]

1 hour ago, sun said:

Acquiring Wong would seem to be a nightmare scenario, a streaky fly by night non-MLB viable catcher that won't be able to hold his own.  If he can't professionally hit & catch by now then leave him where he lies. Goodness gracious sakes alive. Please sign a game ready pro & not someone from the scrap heap.

I would not be so quick to dismiss acquiring Wong. He is coming back from injury and has had minimal playing time since Narvaez has taken the job. He is coming off a season where he slashed 280/333/425 with an OPS+ of 112 as the primary Red Sox catcher (106 games). He had 13 HR, 52 RBI, and 8 SB. He is currently making $790 thousand this season. Compare that to who most Twins fans feel is the Twins best-hitting catcher, Ryan Jeffers. Last season, Jeffers caught 86 games with a slash line of 226/300/432 with an OPS+ of 103. He had 21 HR, 64 RBI, and 3 SB. He is currently making about $4.5 million dollars this season. Last year, both Wong and Jeffers were below average defensively. 

Cody points out that the Red Sox have two former big league catchers stashed at AAA that can replace Wong, while the Twins have an empty organizational cupboard when it comes to catchers. The Twins have been lucky (some would say blessed) to have been able to field two healthy catchers that have evenly split the playing time the past couple of years, but that luck could run out at any time, and they will certainly have to address what to do at the catching position next year. Being able to acquire Wong for a minimal investment when his numbers are down and option him to St. Paul for regular playing time as an insurance policy for the rest of this year and possibly for the future is exactly the kind of move the Twins should consider. 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

If the trade can be made for a non-prospect or a barely-prospect, then I think it's a reasonable idea.  Given the current lack of depth at catcher in the system, this could be a flyer worth taking.  I wouldn't overpay for him, but I wouldn't mind employing him.  

[Doc Lenz]

2 hours ago, CRF said:

They'll throw Gasper in there first, before they'd even think about a trade. 

Great idea. We will be watching the running of the bulls by other teams if he’s behind the plate.

[Doc Lenz]

1 minute ago, Doc Lenz said:

Great idea. We will be watching the running of the bulls by other teams if he’s behind the plate.

Could have traded Alcala for Wong.

[bjorks]

Trading for Wong is simply a cash considerations type move. Meh...

With as bad as he is (on top of 2026 C'ing FA market), I'd almost take Vasquez back at $1 - $1.5. You're not going to pay for a #2 and if it's between him and dudes like an Austin Hedges...not gracias. It could be worse, you could have a no-glove C/DH like Garver for another (Player Option) $12M like Seattle does. Garver would be foolish not to opt-in.  

Unless Cartaya/Camargo improve greatly there aren't many options. The Twins have (kinda) invested in the position, but not at the premium level. I would not want to invest big into a FA as it seems like the better move is to keep swinging (and missing) and hope you can draft/develop a future stud like the Royals (Mitchell, Jensen, Ramirez) and the Cards (Crooks, Bernal, Rodriguez, Campos).

[Parfigliano]

No

[jorgenswest]

Triple slash numbers can be very deceiving in a single season sample. I would not call last season a break out. The only change compared to this season his batted balls found holes. His xBA, xSLG and xwOBA are very close to the same. In fact his expected number are better in 2025 than 2024.

He has been the same hitter this year as last but his BABIP fell from .348 to .200. I don’t think it is buying low. It is the same hitter. No one should have believed last year’s numbers were sustainable. The same is true for this year. His ability is somewhere in between, His preseason projection of a wRC+ in the 80s seems reasonable. He is 29. Is a wRC+ in the 80s matched with his defense worth investing in? Maybe. A wRC+ in the 80s is better than Vazquez. I just don’t think it is good enough. They absolutely shouldn’t take him thinking they can get the 2024 numbers out of him. That was a mirage.

 

[gmwannabe]

Ask the Dodgers what it would take for Dalton Rushing. Start with Duran and E-rod, and add another top 5 prospect not named Jenkins or Keashall and they may just listen.

[jkcarew]

Intellectually, it would make some sense…for a low price.

Emotionally, it’s depressing to even have to consider it.

[DocBauer]

I don't know enough about his defense and game calling to know if he's worth looking at. Maybe he's solid considering the plan WAS for him to be the #1 for Boston when the season started. His CS% is around 20%. That's not great, but it's not completely awful either. 

Offensively, he was productive in MILB. And his 2023 numbers were solid, especially for a catcher. His 2024 was even better. Potentially, he's somewhere between those seasons, which is fine for a #2 if he's actually solid behind the plate.

He's also pre-arbitration at this point, and won't reach FA until 2029. So he won't be very expensive.

My concern is A] just how good is his defense/game calling, B] as a late bloomer, is his bat closer to his MILB and 2023-24 numbers, or closer to his poor 2025 season?

If those 2 questions are answered in the positive, he'd be a solid #2 backstop that won't cost much $, is controllable for the next few years, and could be a smart add if the trade cost is a lower level flier prospect or two. 

If the answer to those 2 questions is negative or questionable, they should probably look elsewhere.

[Bodie]

Sure!!!!

Let's get Mike Piazza.  Except for the bat - Piazza's bat is guaranteed better today than Wong's. 

Heck, he's rested, and might be better behind the plate!

F@#k it, sign Piazza as next year's backup.

[LambchoP]

We don't need another catcher who will struggle to hit .200.....