The Boston Red Sox haven’t been all that active in free agency early this offseason, despite being linked to just about every player available. One guy whose name continues to get mentioned in rumors linking him to Boston is Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto.
In 2025, the Red Sox received a surprisingly strong season from Carlos Narvaez behind the plate. The problem is that their supposed starter, Connor Wong, endured a miserable season that has thrown his future with the club into the air.
A proper platoon option for Narvaez is something the Sox appear to be interested in adding this offseason. And after being linked to Realmuto in November, it sounds like the two sides have remained in contact with one another as the offseason continues to unfold.
“The Red Sox indeed have sniffed around on free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto,” Tim Healey of the Boston Globe reported on Monday.
Realmuto is preparing to enter his 13th season in the majors, and while he is still a valuable asset behind the plate, he isn’t necessarily the player he once was. In 2025, Realmuto hit .257 with 12 home runs and 52 RBIs, while also playing strong defense at one of the most physically taxing positions in all of sports.
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There’s no doubt that Realmuto offers some value, considering how he plays the catcher position, but it seems like Boston is intent on pursuing some bigger targets before potentially pivoting to Realmuto. As a result, it will be worth keeping tabs on him, as he could be a fallback option if things don’t go the Red Sox’s way in free agency.
Featured image via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images
