Red Sox 2026 Spring Training

[Hugh2]

I’m all for upgrading catcher, but given the injuries Wong was battling last year why shouldn’t expect a 2026 healthy Wong to look more like he did in 2024?  That would be better than anything that’s on the market right now and a really good 2nd catcher.  
 

it would be more encouraging if he was having a better spring, but I expect Wong to bounce back in 2026.

[JoeBrady]

At this point, I'd be leaning towards taking advantage of the fact that Wong has options and Thaiss does not.  Demote Wong, and if Thaiss struggles, cut him and bring Wong back.

[notin]

1 hour ago, Hugh2 said:

I’m all for upgrading catcher, but given the injuries Wong was battling last year why shouldn’t expect a 2026 healthy Wong to look more like he did in 2024?  That would be better than anything that’s on the market right now and a really good 2nd catcher.  
 

it would be more encouraging if he was having a better spring, but I expect Wong to bounce back in 2026.

I worry more about Narvaez.  He is going to actually play, has a short track record for MLB success and his MiLB numbers were far worse than Wong’s…

[moonslav59]

8 minutes ago, notin said:

I worry more about Narvaez.  He is going to actually play, has a short track record for MLB success and his MiLB numbers were far worse than Wong’s…

While career MiLB numbers do show Narvaez was "far worse," he had some pretty decent numbers and was much closer with the AAA numbers.

AAA:

.247/.371/.400/.772 Narvaez (21 HRs in 627 PAs)

.278/.329/.477/.806 Wong (24 HRs in 577 PAs)

Narvaez had a much higher OBP, which is widely viewed as more important than SLG. One could argue they were pretty close to even in AAA numbers.

[notin]

40 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

While career MiLB numbers do show Narvaez was "far worse," he had some pretty decent numbers and was much closer with the AAA numbers.

AAA:

.247/.371/.400/.772 Narvaez (21 HRs in 627 PAs)

.278/.329/.477/.806 Wong (24 HRs in 577 PAs)

Narvaez had a much higher OBP, which is widely viewed as more important than SLG. One could argue they were pretty close to even in AAA numbers.

But combined with his short track record, if Wong is able to fall into “offensive black hole”, how immune is Narvaez?

And right now, it’s more detrimental if Narvaez does so than if Wong does…

[moonslav59]

1 hour ago, notin said:

But combined with his short track record, if Wong is able to fall into “offensive black hole”, how immune is Narvaez?

And right now, it’s more detrimental if Narvaez does so than if Wong does…

Certainly, Narvaez is no sure bet .725 to .750 batter. One season proves nothing.

Wong has had several pretty bad hitting stretches, and his one stretch of good numbers was not supported by underlying metrics. Some called 2024 "lucky."

.663 2022-2023 (459 PAs)

.758 2024 (487)

.500 2025 (188)

It's a larger sample size than Narvaez.

Wong is a career .680 batter, which is not bad for a back-up catcher with good results working with most of our pitchers.

I don't think it's a major issue, and I'm not sure Thaiss or Delay offer any better hopes on offense or defense.

[notin]

27 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Certainly, Narvaez is no sure bet .725 to .750 batter. One season proves nothing.

Wong has had several pretty bad hitting stretches, and his one stretch of good numbers was not supported by underlying metrics. Some called 2024 "lucky."

.663 2022-2023 (459 PAs)

.758 2024 (487)

.500 2025 (188)

It's a larger sample size than Narvaez.

Wong is a career .680 batter, which is not bad for a back-up catcher with good results working with most of our pitchers.

I don't think it's a major issue, and I'm not sure Thaiss or Delay offer any better hopes on offense or defense.

No one said it was a major issue.  But if I’m going to worry about one of the Sox catchers, the I think the bigger worry is the one who got 446 plate appearances as opposed to the one who only got 188.  It’s not like Narvaez has any kind of track record where I can tell if last year was the real deal or just some lucky fluke year…

[moonslav59]

6 minutes ago, notin said:

No one said it was a major issue.  But if I’m going to worry about one of the Sox catchers, the I think the bigger worry is the one who got 446 plate appearances as opposed to the one who only got .  It’s not like Narvaez has any kind of track record where I can tell if last year was the real deal or just some lucky fluke year…

Actually, someone did say it was a major issue, and it sparked this commentary.

I disagree that Narvaez is a bigger risk of failure. He had decent AAA numbers and looks pretty good on defense. There is a reason he is viewed as the starter.

[Nick]

Mayer out with left knee soreness. Will be back in the lineup Tuesday.

Geeze....23 years old and body is imploding. Lets not extend this guy. One play away from being on IL. 

[moonslav59]

11 minutes ago, Nick said:

Mayer out with left knee soreness. Will be back in the lineup Tuesday.

Geeze....23 years old and body is imploding. Lets not extend this guy. One play away from being on IL. 

I'm not sure who is worse: Mayer or China Doll Casas.

[mvp 78]

20 hours ago, Hugh2 said:

I’m all for upgrading catcher, but given the injuries Wong was battling last year why shouldn’t expect a 2026 healthy Wong to look more like he did in 2024?  That would be better than anything that’s on the market right now and a really good 2nd catcher.  
 

it would be more encouraging if he was having a better spring, but I expect Wong to bounce back in 2026.

Wong's offensive output in 2024 was completely a fluke and defied the expected stats. 

 

[mvp 78]

18 hours ago, notin said:

I worry more about Narvaez.  He is going to actually play, has a short track record for MLB success and his MiLB numbers were far worse than Wong’s…

I disagree.

AAA OBP

Narvaez

'23 373

'24 370

Wong

'21 288

'22 349

Narvaez's 294 BABIP from last season seems pretty reasonable. I think he has a better chance of repeating his offensive output unlike Wong. Plus, Narvaez is a much better defensive catcher. 

[Duran Is The Man]

On 3/15/2026 at 6:33 AM, notin said:

So you want a backup catcher that can hit and field?  Any reason that player settles for a backup job? 
 

If Narvaez goes down, the Sox have Wong, Jason Delay, and Matt Thaiss.  None are really hitters.  But then someone like Ivan Herrera or Will Smith isn’t signing on to be a backup catcher…

we just see it different. you're happy with the bottom of the barrel, the worst of the worst. i'm looking for the cream of the crap. you know...someone that can actually hit the f***ing ball every now and then instead of like.....never.

[mvp 78]

2 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

we just see it different. you're happy with the bottom of the barrel, the worst of the worst. i'm looking for the cream of the crap. you know...someone that can actually hit the f***ing ball every now and then instead of like.....never.

Back up catchers aren't usually available with multiple skillsets. Some can hit. Some can field (even that gets broken down between blocking vs framing vs controlling the running game). If a guy is a good fielder and can hit a little bit, he's typically already a starting catcher in MLB.

[Duran Is The Man]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Back up catchers aren't usually available with multiple skillsets. Some can hit. Some can field (even that gets broken down between blocking vs framing vs controlling the running game). If a guy is a good fielder and can hit a little bit, he's typically already a starting catcher in MLB.

wong can't even hit a little. in fact, he can't hit at all.

 

[mvp 78]

12 minutes ago, Duran Is The Man said:

wong can't even hit a little. in fact, he can't hit at all.

 

It's why I think they should go with Thaiss. He's good for about 85 wRC+. Wong really bottomed out last year and there's not telling what he'd do this season. 

[mvp 78]

 

[Old Red]

10 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

It's why I think they should go with Thaiss. He's good for about 85 wRC+. Wong really bottomed out last year and there's not telling what he'd do this season. 

Wong is wrong?🤫

[mvp 78]

4 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Wong is wrong?🤫

Jeter Downs and out!

Verdugo-go-go-gone! 

[mvp 78]

In simulated game news:

 

[moonslav59]

2 hours ago, Duran Is The Man said:

wong can't even hit a little. in fact, he can't hit at all.

Neither can Thaiss.

Career:

87 OPS+ Wong

81 OPS+ Thaiss

It's like replacing the Talban with the Taliban, 20 years later!

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

Neither can Thaiss.

Career:

87 OPS+ Wong

81 OPS+ Thaiss

It's like replacing the Talban with the Taliban, 20 years later!

Wong's stats are skewed by '24.

'23 79 wRC+

'24 112 wRC+ (not repeatable)

'25 39 wRC+

Thaiss

'23 85 wRC+

'24 84 wRC+

'25 89 wRC+

I'm much more comfortable with what Thaiss can do with the bat this year than Wong. He's been much more consistent over the past 3 seasons. 

 

[moonslav59]

11 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Wong's stats are skewed by '24.

'23 79 wRC+

'24 112 wRC+ (not repeatable)

'25 39 wRC+

Thaiss

'23 85 wRC+

'24 84 wRC+

'25 89 wRC+

I'm much more comfortable with what Thaiss can do with the bat this year than Wong. He's been much more consistent over the past 3 seasons. 

So, the argument is take the consistently bad guy, so you know what you got?

Again, I'd be fine with Thaiss as the #2 with Wong optioned to AAA as the #3, but I'm not so sure about better offense in 2026.

BTW, Wong has an 80 OPS+ before 2024 in 473 PAs.

113 in 2024 (487)

42 in 2025 (188)

While I agree, his 2024 numbers were padded by luck, but why are we so sure 2025 is the real Wong? He had a 960 PA sample size before 2025. I do not think the 96 OPS+ was sustainable, but I don't think he's a 42 OPS+ guy either.

[Old Red]

6 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

So, the argument is take the consistently bad guy, so you know what you got?

Again, I'd be fine with Thaiss as the #2 with Wong optioned to AAA as the #3, but I'm not so sure about better offense in 2026.

BTW, Wong has an 80 OPS+ before 2024 in 473 PAs.

113 in 2024 (487)

42 in 2025 (188)

While I agree, his 2024 numbers were padded by luck, but why are we so sure 2025 is the real Wong? He had a 960 PA sample size before 2025. I do not think the 96 OPS+ was sustainable, but I don't think he's a 42 OPS+ guy either.

Ahh apologizing, and showing some love for Wong Again how nice.🤓

[moonslav59]

2 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Ahh apologizing, and showing some love for Wong Again how nice.🤓

If you knew what that big word meant, I might take your post seriously.

[moonslav59]

Since Thaiss has the opt out clause, I'd think keeping him around makes more sense. Wong has options, so let's use one.

[mvp 78]

15 minutes ago, moonslav59 said:

BTW, Wong has an 80 OPS+ before 2024 in 473 PAs.

Nope.

 

[mvp 78]

9 minutes ago, Old Red said:

Ahh apologizing, and showing some love for Wong Again how nice.🤓

If he wants to hitch his wagon to Wong, he can have him. 🤭

[moonslav59]

5 minutes ago, mvp 78 said:

Nope.

 

B-R shows "80" from 2021-2023. I'd don't see OPS+ on this data.

 

Seasons	Age	Team	WAR	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+	rOBA	Rbat+	TB	GIDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
2021-2023	25-27	BOS	2.4	159	473	432	66	100	29	3	10	44	8	2	28	157	.231	.288	.382	.670	80

[moonslav59]

1 minute ago, mvp 78 said:

If he wants to hitch his wagon to Wong, he can have him. 🤭

What wagon and what hitch?

I'm fine with Thaiss, and due to the optout issues, I'd add him and option Wong, for now.