2 pros, 2 cons to Red Sox giving Jorge Alfaro a chance
In the offseason, when the Boston Red Sox first signed Jorge Alfaro, it looked like they were finally atoning for letting Christian Vazquez walk to another team after the Houston Astros were reluctant to resign him in free agency.
Right? Wrong. Very wrong, in fact.
So wrong in fact that they signed him to a minor league deal that gave him an opt-out clause that allows him to opt-out on or after June 1 if the Red Sox don't add him to their 26-man roster before then. Alfaro did just that: according to Chris Cotillo, of MassLive.com, he opted out of his minor league deal -- giving Boston 48 hours to either add him to the 26-man roster or let him roam the waters of free agency.
If they were to add him to the 26-man roster, there would be pros and cons to it.
Should Red Sox give Jorge Alfaro a chance?
Pro No. 1: You get an experienced catcher on the roster
Whenever you add experience to a team, it definitely carries some weight, no matter who it is - as long as you're not making 75-year-old Carlton Fisk get behind the plate, and hope he can wave another home run fair a la the 1975 World Series.
But when you add someone like Alfaro, who made it to the NLCS just a year ago, and someone who has more big league catching experience than both of your big league catchers combined, that is something that you can look at and say that it can potentially be worth it.
While Alfaro has not played as a consistent starter since the 2018, and 2019 seasons, where he hit .262 both seasons, hit a combined 28 home runs, and also collected 94 RBI. He still has yet to even get a second look from the front office in Boston. Even to the untrained eye that looks like someone who, if they're not up in the major leagues, should at least be on the 40-man roster, but not to the Red Sox, you'll see why with con #1.
Should Red Sox give Jorge Alfaro a chance?
Con No. 1: It would take releasing a catcher to add him
While the Red Sox have two solid catchers, what they don't have is one that has wowed viewers like Alfaro has. In 43 games this season for Triple-A Worcester, "El Oso" has hit .320 with six home runs, and 30 RBI. To add to that, he has also tallied 13 doubles - giving him 91 total bases. If he were to get added to the roster, it would involve releasing one of either Reese McGuire and Connor Wong.
If Boston wants to go the experience route and keep a balance of left-handed and right-handed hitting catchers, it would make sense to release Wong - as 2023 has been his first full season in the majors. However, if the Red Sox were to release him, they would then run the risk of the infamous Mookie Betts trade looking like a complete failure - especially with the season he has put up (.243, 5 HR, 13 RBI).
On the flipside, if Boston were to release McGuire, first things first, it leaves the Red Sox with two right-handed batting catchers, and washes the trade they made for him, as Jake Diekman has already been released by the Chicago White Sox. While this would make more sense from a front office standpoint, the Red Sox would lose the catcher who is hitting for a higher average (.293), but not driving in more runs or hitting for more power.
Should Red Sox give Jorge Alfaro a chance?
Pro No. 2: You add a catcher with postseason experience
While right now, the Red Sox have two catchers with major league experience, what neither of them have gotten a taste of is the postseason. The only one who even has credit for being in a postseason game is McGuire, but he was unable to even record a plate appearance.
Alfaro doesn't have much more playoff experience (two games, as opposed to one), but he at least stepped up to the plate. Granted, he struck out in one of his three plate appearances, but he at least knows what it's like to face pitching in the postseason.
The problem that presents itself with experience, is that Boston as a whole lacks it, with exceptions of Alex Verdugo, Justin Turner, a few pitchers, and Adam Duvall. While the Red Sox sit pretty close to .500 as of the beginning of June, Alfaro's taste of the postseason might be a spark.
Should Red Sox give Jorge Alfaro a chance?
Con No. 2 - The potential chemistry disruption
Given the up-and-down tendencies of Boston's pitching staff this season, who knows if this is even a thing, but a pitcher-catcher battery has the potential to be something very delicate and - at times - something that is not to be messed with.
The chemistry between McGuire, and Wong, is definitely noticeable as well. Something anyone who has simply watched baseball knows, that chemistry is important, getting along with your teammates is definitely something that is paramount in baseball today.
If Alfaro comes into the catcher's room, there is the potential that it may break up the rhythm some pitchers have with certain catchers - something that the Red Sox might want to avoid, given their delicate situation.
Conclusion: If Boston is willing to give up on Reese McGuire, and wants to add some pop to the lineup, they should give Alfaro a chance
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