The Red Sox are already making noise this offseason, and if the early moves are any indication, they’re far from done. After swinging a deal for veteran starter Sonny Gray, Boston is casting a wide net - checking in on just about every power bat available, whether via trade or free agency.
But one name that’s raised eyebrows is catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Now, Realmuto isn’t exactly the kind of player you’d expect Boston to be chasing right now. Their rumored interest in guys like Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso makes sense - they fill clear positional needs and bring serious pop.
Kyle Schwarber? That’s a classic DH slugger move.
But Realmuto? That one’s a bit of a curveball.
At 35 years old come Opening Day, Realmuto’s best years may be behind him, but he’s still doing some things at an elite level - particularly behind the plate. In 2025, he hit .257 with 12 homers and a .700 OPS across 134 games.
Not eye-popping numbers, but still solid for a catcher. He added 26 doubles and even a triple, showing there’s still some juice left in the bat.
And with most of his home runs going out to left field, you can imagine how well his swing might play off the Green Monster at Fenway.
Defensively, Realmuto remains one of the best in the business. He’s still elite in pop time - ranking in the 99th percentile - and he’s well above average in caught stealing metrics. That kind of defensive presence, paired with his leadership and playoff experience, could certainly bring value to a young Red Sox clubhouse.
But the fit gets murky when you look at the current state of Boston’s catching corps - particularly Carlos Narváez.
Narváez had a breakout rookie campaign after coming over from the Yankees. In 118 games, he posted a .241/.306/.419 slash line with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs.
But it wasn’t just the bat that stood out - it was the glove. Narváez quickly established himself as one of the best defensive catchers in the American League.
His framing, blocking, and pop time all rank in the 80th percentile or higher, and he brought a level of defensive consistency that Boston had been lacking with Connor Wong behind the dish.
So naturally, when MLB analyst Yonder Alonso floated the idea of the Sox trading Narváez to make room for Realmuto, it stirred up some strong reactions from fans - and for good reason.
Narváez is young, cost-controlled, and already producing on both sides of the ball. Trading that kind of asset for a 35-year-old catcher - even one as respected as Realmuto - doesn’t exactly line up with the team’s long-term needs. Especially when Boston has other holes to fill, particularly in the power department.
Wong, meanwhile, remains a solid backup option. He’s not going to carry the offense, but he’s reliable, and his price tag is friendly. That’s the kind of depth you want behind a young starter like Narváez - not necessarily a reason to go out and spend on a high-profile veteran.
There’s also the financial angle. Realmuto isn’t going to command the kind of long-term, high-dollar deal that someone like Alonso or Bregman would.
And that might be part of the appeal for Boston’s front office, which has shown a clear reluctance to hand out big contracts in recent years. Just look at last offseason, when they reportedly balked at Bregman’s asking price.
So is this interest in Realmuto about upgrading the catcher position? Or is it more about staying competitive while keeping spending in check?
Realmuto would bring experience, leadership, and still-solid production - no question. But when you already have a young, ascending catcher who’s proving he can handle the job, and when your roster has more urgent needs elsewhere, it’s hard to justify making a splash at a position that’s already a strength.
If the Red Sox are serious about contending, the focus should be on adding impact bats or a front-line starter - not reshuffling a catching unit that’s finally starting to look like a long-term solution. Realmuto’s a great player, but in this case, the timing and the fit just don’t add up.