Rumored Red Sox Trade Target Doesn’t Want To Be Moved

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly in the market for catching help.

Carlos Narvaez has been excellent behind the plate, but he’s a rookie shouldering the biggest workload of his career, and he needs time off his feet to remain productive. Connor Wong has been good defensively, but his bat has been basically non-existent. He’s hitting .151 with a single extra-base hit.

The catching market has already heated up, as well. Danny Jansen was traded from the Tampa Bay Rays to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Rays then turned around and acquired Nick Fortes from the Miami Marlins.

The Red Sox have been connected with Dalton Rushing, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ backup to Will Smith. Rushing spoke to Rob Bradford of Baseball Isn’t Boring at Fenway Park on Sunday.

“All that stuff is out of my control,” Rushing said. “At the end of the day, I want the team to want to see me on the field every single day or however many days they need me out there to win as many ballgames as possible. That’s what the Dodgers are doing right now, and I pray that I can be a Dodger for as long as possible.”

That’s a strong stance from Rushing. Unfortunately for the rookie, it isn’t up to him. While he hasn’t had a ton of playing time since being promoted in May, his prospect pedigree makes him an interesting option for a team with catching needs like the Red Sox.

Rushing has played 28 games and recorded 80 plate appearances so far this season. He’s hitting .200 with three doubles and a home run and striking out 40% of the time. While 80 trips to the plate is hardly a large sample, the high strikeout rate is concerning for his future outlook.

Rushing hits left-handed, making him a good platoon partner for Narvaez. His defense doesn’t grade out as well as Wong’s, but scouts like his bat a lot, and his athleticism could allow him to move to a corner outfield spot or first base if necessary.