Article: Red Sox Offseason Target: Catcher J.T. Realmuto

[Jordan Leandre]

While Carlos Narvaez impressed in his rookie campaign, adding a veteran catcher should be a point of emphasis for the Boston Red Sox this winter. That's not to say that Connor Wong, who recently had hand surgery, can't be a competent backup, but the lack of catching depth became a glaring issue as the 2025 season wore on.

It's not a fruitful market for teams with a need for catching, however. While some speculate the potential availability of Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, it's highly unlikely he's moved for anything less than that of someone with first overall pick status. And it'd be rather foolish to pay that price when Narvaez has already locked down the starting gig.

So, that generally leaves the free-agent market, where veterans such as Victor Caratini, Austin Hedges, and James McCann will be. Not exactly a murderer's row, there. However, in addition to them is multi-time All-Star and longtime National League East member J.T. Realmuto.

Let's examine the veteran's résumé and examine his potential fit with the Red Sox in 2026 (and perhaps beyond).

The Good

Save for 2024, the 34-year-old backstop is a workhorse who's played at least 125 games -- or on pace to play that many (thank you, 2020) -- every year since becoming an established big leaguer in 2015. For a catcher, that's not easy to do.

Sure, he's played some first base in his MLB career, as most catchers tend to do to preserve their bodies, but only 263 total defensive innings and zero since 2022. So, he's a catcher through and through.

Plus, he's still a consistent contributor on offense. Though not as potent as his days with the Miami Marlins or even his early days with the Philadelphia Phillies, Realmuto posted a 94 wRC+ with 12 home runs and 52 runs batted in across 550 plate appearances in 2025. Among the 42 catchers with at least 250 plate appearances, the righty bat ranked 15th in fWAR with 2.1.

Defensively, he's not a savant as a framer or blocker, but the former doesn't matter as much with the implementation of the Automated Balls and Strikes system. He's still got a cannon back there as well, ranking in the 95th percentile for caught stealing above average and in the 99th percentile for pop time. For reference, Narvaez ranked in the 98th percentile for CSAA but just the 80th percentile for pop time. Wong, on the other hand, was in the 21st percentile for CSAA and the 39th in pop time.

Realmuto will get paid like a starting catcher on the open market, which makes sense seeing as he's still very good, but if Boston can convince him that playing in a near 50-50 split with Narvaez will prolong his career and help elevate his performance, he'd make a ton of sense for them next season.

The Bad

While 2025 was hardly a bad season for Realmuto, the soon-to-be 35-year-old has seen steady regression at the plate from a power standpoint. You can chalk some of the decline in his raw counting stats up to injuries and batted ball variance -- especially seeing as his expected wOBA has been between .323 and .339 since 2023 -- but the power drop-off is fierce.

In 2023, Realmuto posted a 101 wRC+ and a .200 isolated power; in 2024, it was a 107 wRC+ but a .163 ISO. This year, both of those figures dropped to 94 and .127, respectively. His walk rate remained about the same, his strikeout rate improved ever so slightly, but the power is way down. Perhaps a ballpark change could help his power, but he'd also have to change his swing. Over the past two years, Realmuto has a pulled fly ball rate under 15 percent, and 2025 saw a dramatic decline in overall bat speed.

While the institutional knowledge he possesses can't be priced, the overall production can—the question becomes is he worth getting paid like a starter to get 80 or so games with consistently declining production, given that the alternative is Wong?

The Verdict

It'd still be in Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow's best interest to lessen the workload of Narvaez, especially seeing as his production dipped dramatically in the second half, but there's better avenues to Boston's spending than someone like Realmuto.

As mentioned before, guys like Caratini and McCann are available and offer more offensive upside to Wong, with Hedges providing elite defensive prowess back there. Even if it ends up being of similar significance as Jonathan Lucroy in 2020, getting a third catcher with extensive big-league experience is a must, though that likely comes with the hope Wong can strike a happy balance between 2024 and 2025 offensively.

Realmuto doesn't seem like a major candidate to leave the Phillies as things stand. If he does, it's probably to another team he can start a lion's share of the games. While, in theory, a Narvaez-Realmuto pairing would be a fun catching tandem, it probably isn't worth the red flags that would come with paying relatively big money for a catcher turning 35 in March.

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[JoeBrady]

We're not signing a starting catcher like JTR to be a backup.

And JTR won't sign anywhere to be a backup catcher.

[moonslav59]

Unless JH goes nutty on winter spending, we will not be adding any catchers, except on MiLB deals.

[TedYazPapiMookie]

Narvaez is likely to be a one hit wonder like Wong.  JT would start and solve the problem, but I'd rather see Breslow go back to the CWS and ask what they want for Teel.

[notin]

23 hours ago, moonslav59 said:

Unless JH goes nutty on winter spending, we will not be adding any catchers, except on MiLB deals.

Or the Sox re-investigate the availability of blocked prospect Dalton Rushing.   Reportedly the Dodgers were trying to move him to the OF.  Why not just deal him for an OF?  He matches up nicely with Abreu on BTV, but Duran is a much better fit for the Dodgers.  (Rushing alone should not be enough for a Duran.)

[JoeBrady]

22 hours ago, notin said:

Or the Sox re-investigate the availability of blocked prospect Dalton Rushing.   Reportedly the Dodgers were trying to move him to the OF.  Why not just deal him for an OF?  He matches up nicely with Abreu on BTV, but Duran is a much better fit for the Dodgers.  (Rushing alone should not be enough for a Duran.)

Why would we want to give up a 3.2 bWAR player for a backup catcher?

[mvp 78]

5 hours ago, JoeBrady said:

Why would we want to give up a 3.2 bWAR player for a backup catcher?

You do it if you believe Rushing is the future starting catcher because of his MiLB offensive output. 

[JoeBrady]

On 10/22/2025 at 3:57 PM, mvp 78 said:

You do it if you believe Rushing is the future starting catcher because of his MiLB offensive output. 

He could be good, despite his bad K/W in his rookie year.  But the question would remain, why trade talent to obtain a top-30 catching prospect, when we already have a catcher?  I'd much prefer to trade for a pitcher or infielder of a similar value.