The Red Sox keep circling the catcher market, and now another familiar name has surfaced: Iván Herrera.
Boston has already been linked to Shea Langeliers of the Athletics and Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies, but ESPN’s Jorge Castillo added Herrera of the St. Louis Cardinals to the list on Wednesday. According to Castillo, the Cardinals are open to moving anyone on their big league roster except Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt.
"The Cardinals are willing to listen to offers on anybody on their big league roster not named Jordan Walker or JJ Wetherholt, sources told ESPN," Castillo wrote. "That includes veteran outfielder Lars Nootbaar and All-Star designated hitter/catcher Iván Herrera, who has drawn interest from at least the Yankees and Red Sox. "
That puts Boston right back in the same lane as its division rival. The Yankees have also been mentioned in the catcher hunt, and this is not the first time this summer the two American League East clubs have been tied to the same backstop.
The Red Sox and Cardinals, meanwhile, have been busy business partners. Boston got Steven Matz from St.
Louis last year before the 2025 trade deadline in exchange for Blaze Jordan. Then this past offseason, the teams completed two more deals that brought Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras to Boston.
After those moves, Brendan Donovan also emerged as a possible fit for the Red Sox.
Now Herrera has entered the conversation, and the fit is obvious. He is 26 and earned his first All-Star selection this season. He could help Boston behind the plate while also giving the club another option at designated hitter.
Herrera has hit .246/.365/.384 with a .749 OPS, 12 homers and 46 RBIs in 107 games this season. In 2024, he posted a .284/.373/.464 line with 19 homers and 66 RBIs in 107 games.
There is also the control factor. Herrera is under team control through the 2029 season, which would give the Red Sox three more seasons if they were able to pry him away from St. Louis.
For a team that needs catching help and more right-handed power, especially after Curtis Mead landed on the Injured List after his first game with the organization, Herrera checks a lot of boxes. Given the recent history between the Red Sox and Cardinals, he looks like the kind of target that could make plenty of sense.
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Cardinals Fans Should Be Watching Lars Nootbaar Trade Buzz Closely
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