The Boston Red Sox have not been shy in outlining their offseason wish list. They want to add a starting pitcher to slot behind ace left-hander Garrett Crochet in a postseason series. And they want to upgrade their offense, with the re-signing of free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman a primary goal.
Acquiring another catcher is not among the Sox’s top priorities, or so it has seemed. But the Red Sox are showing interest in J.T. Realmuto, according to people briefed on their discussions.
The usual caveats apply. It is early in free agency. Teams are touching base with a large number of players. The best guess with Realmuto is that he will still re-sign with the Philadelphia Phillies, his team since 2019.
The lure of another team would need to be strong. Realmuto and his family own a home in Clearwater, Fla., site of the Phillies’ spring training facility, and spent part of the offseason there. The Phillies, lacking an internal replacement for Realmuto, also are motivated to keep him.
Realmuto, No. 24 on The Athletic’s free-agent big board, would be more of a complementary player for the Red Sox as he enters his age-35 season, not the big bat they are seeking. Still, he could fit the team in several ways.
As a right-handed hitter. As part of a tandem with catcher Carlos Narváez, who declined offensively in the final four months as he played through a knee injury. And as a clubhouse leader who would provide a strong veteran presence to a young position-player group, ideally in tandem with Bregman.
The Red Sox on Thursday re-signed catcher Connor Wong to a one-year, $1.375 million deal before the arbitration deadline. Wong, 29, cratered offensively last season while improving defensively. Realmuto, who remains one of the game’s most athletic catchers, would be a clear, if not massive, improvement.
The Athletic’s Tim Britton projected Realmuto will land a three-year, $45 million contract. Earlier this offseason, The Athletic’s Matt Gelb noted Yadier Molina signed a three-year, $60 million extension contract in April 2017 covering his age-35 to -37 seasons.
“We’re trying to consider all paths to improving the club,” Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said.
The market for Realmuto beyond the Phillies and Red Sox, if they indeed emerge as a serious player for the 12-year veteran, is unclear.
The Texas Rangers reduced their 2025 payroll by non-tendering outfielder Adolis Garcia and catcher Jonah Heim and trading second baseman Marcus Semien for outfielder Brandon Nimmo. Realmuto would fill a need, and the Rangers are the team closest to his native Del City, Okla. But for a team cutting payroll, his price might be too high.
The San Francisco Giants might be a better possibility. President of baseball operations Buster Posey, a former catcher, surely understands Realmuto’s value, both tangible and intangible. Jeff Berry, a senior adviser in the front office, is both Posey’s and Realmuto’s former agent. Giants catcher Patrick Bailey is the game’s top framer but batted only .222 with a .602 OPS last season.
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds are among the other teams that might look to improve at catcher. But it’s doubtful Realmuto, who has been to the postseason four straight years with the Phillies, would want to join a less competitive team.
Realmuto is not the player he was when he signed a five-year, $115.5 million free-agent contract with the Phillies in January 2021, setting a record for the highest average annual value by a catcher. But he remains one of the most durable players at the position, leading all catchers the past five seasons in games played.
His offense last season fell below league average for the first time since his rookie campaign in 2015, but it was mostly because of a slow start. For the season, he batted .257 with 12 home runs and a .700 OPS. But after June 9, he was above league average as a hitter.
His sprint speed was second among catchers to the Athletics’ Shea Langeliers. Defensively, his average pop time, exchange time and throwing accuracy remain elite. His blocking and framing have declined, but the introduction of the automated ball-strike challenge system next season will somewhat diminish the importance of framing.
If Realmuto lands with any team other than the Phillies, it will be a surprise. But quality catchers are scarce. And Realmuto, even at an advanced age, even after a season of offensive decline, is the best available in free agency.
