Ex-Red Sox Catcher Reportedly Available; Should Boston Consider Reunion To Bolster Depth?

The Boston Red Sox have some questions at catcher heading into the 2023 campaign.

Boston has three players fighting for two big league spots in Reese McGuire, Connor Wong, and Jorge Alfaro. There's no way for sure to know who will nab the spots at this point although McGuire seems like a lock. Alfaro has shined in spring training and at the World Baseball Classic but is signed to a minor league deal. Wong started the spring off strong but missed time due to a hamstring injury. 

The Red Sox will have to decide what to do with Wong and Alfaro shortly, but it wouldn't hurt to add even more depth to the minor leagues. One player who may be worth a second look is former Boston catcher Kevin Plawecki. He reportedly won't make the Pittsburgh Pirates' active roster and has opted out of his minor league contract to become a free agent, according to Pittsburgh Baseball Now's John Perotto.

"Veteran catcher Kevin Plawecki will not make the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Opening Day roster and has opted out of his minor-league contract," Perotto said. "The Pirates did not immediately announce the news. However, Plawecki’s locker was empty Thursday following the Pirates’ 7-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox in a Grapefruit League game at LECOM Park and an industry source confirmed the move."

Plawecki joined the Red Sox in 2020 and remained with the club until he was designated for assignment during the 2022 campaign. In three seasons in Boston, Plawecki appeared in 148 games and slashed .270/.333/.364 to go along with five home runs and 44 RBIs. 

Boston seems to be set at catcher, but it wouldn't hurt to add Plawecki on a minor-league deal. If Alfaro doesn't make the big league team out of spring training, he likely will opt out of his deal -- like Plawecki -- and become a free agent. Even if he does make the team, Boston already has dealt with injuries at catcher in spring training so it wouldn't be too surprising if more injuries pop up. 

Plawecki may be a solid veteran minor league option for Boston to provide even more depth. If more injuries pop up, Boston knows what it could have with Plawecki. Hopefully, McGuire, Wong, and Alfaro all remain healthy and are solid in 2023, but Boston doesn't have much catcher depth in the minors aside from the trio. Adding Plawecki into the mix on an emergency basis wouldn't cost much and only could help.