The Boston Red Sox have lost two of their three catchers to free agency this offseason. Reese McGuire and Danny Jansen will hit the market, and the Red Sox aren't expected to sign them back because the organization can do better.
Their departures leave Connor Wong as the team's only big league backstop. Boston's top catching prospect, Kyle Teel, may not be major-league-ready out of spring training. Like Jansen and McGuire, the Red Sox also need to hit the catching market.
One of the best free agent catchers available was signed on Nov. 12 by the Los Angeles Angels. Longtime Brave Travis d'Arnaud joined the Angels organization for two years at $12 million, as reported by MLB insider Jeff Passan.
Atlanta declined a team option on d'Arnaud's contract that would've kept him a Brave for another year. The Angels saw their opportunity to secure a veteran backstop and took it swiftly, which the Red Sox should've done.
The Angels signed Travis d'Arnaud, which limits Red Sox's free agent catching options
OFFICIAL: The Angels have agreed to a two-year contract with C Travis d’Arnaud. pic.twitter.com/V1VFyyGxaK
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) November 12, 2024
d'Arnaud bats righty and Boston is desperate for more right-handed production, which was a key reason it pursued Jansen at last season's trade deadline. d'Arnaud has a better track record of offensive success though, as he owns a career .248/.309/.426 slash line compared to Jansen's .220/.308/.419.
d'Arnaud would also be a defensive improvement over Wong. The Red Sox's catcher is notoriously poor at blocking and framing, and he posted a frightening -13 blocks above average in 2024. d'Arnaud ranked above the league average in that category with three blocks above average in his 12th year of MLB service time.
Wong posted a breakout offensive season last year and batted .280/.333/.425 with a .758 OPS in 126 games. He'll still be of great use to the Sox next season, but they could also use a more competent defender behind the plate for Teel to learn from as he nears his big league debut.
d'Arnaud's decade-plus of MLB experience would've been a quality addition to Boston's young catching duo of Wong and Teel. But the Angels got to the veteran first, and the Sox will need to look elsewhere for a catcher who will likely serve as a backup to Wong.