Red Sox Trade Rumors: Nationals Interested in Shoppach and Salty

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe tweeted Monday night that the Washington Nationals had a scout at the Red Sox/Mariners game with an interest in watching the Red Sox catchers.  Recently the Nationals lost their full time catcher Wilson Ramos due to what could be a season ending torn ACL.  The injury happened a few days ago and now the Nationals are left to try and fill the void.

Cafardo didn’t report on who in particular the Nats were watching but with Kelly Shoppach in the game, one has to wonder if it is the part-time catcher they are interested in.  Shoppach would not warrant a huge return should the Red Sox decide to part ways with him given he’s been mainly used in a back-up role to Jarrod Saltalamacchia this season.

Shoppach has a line of .244/.358/.400/.758 with no home runs and 5 RBI.

With Ryan Lavarnway waiting patiently in triple-A Pawtucket, a deal for one of the two current backstops is a real possibility, one that was buzzing this spring when the club signed Shoppach.   The Nationals had to have been impressed with Salty’s 5 RBI game on Sunday.

Lavarnway hasn’t exactly been tearing the cover off the ball in the minors but many feel he is working on improving his ability to call the game in an effective manner, something that the Red Sox will need out of him should he catch on a full-time basis with the big club.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports tweets that Shoppach is likely to be of more interest to the Nationals.

We’ll monitor this situation and provide you with the latest updates.

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