The Boston Red Sox are in a complicated position with the All-Star break and trade deadline looming. Their 27-36 record has sent them to the bottom of the American League and the basement of their division, but they're also only four games out of a Wild Card spot.
The trade rumor mill has picked up as the middle of the season approaches and the buzz around the Red Sox goes both ways, as buyers and sellers. MLB insider Bob Nightengale wrote it's almost guaranteed that Aroldis Chapman will be traded, likely as part of a sell-off. Meanwhile, Buster Olney has reported that Boston has been calling around looking for a right-handed bat.
Along with a righty bat, the Red Sox are reportedly shopping catcher Connor Wong, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic (subscription required). Boston is able to do this because it carries three catchers on the roster under interim manager Chad Tracy: Wong, Carlos Narváez and Mickey Gasper.
Gasper had been a favorite hitter of Tracy's when he managed in Triple-A. After a rough start to his big league career with the Red Sox in 2024 when he didn't log a hit in 13 games, Gasper has made his presence known enough on Boston's roster to establish himself as an everyday player and principal catcher. Gasper is batting .300/.342/.371 with three doubles, a triple and five RBI over 22 games.
Red Sox can shop Connor Wong after Mickey Gasper's breakout at the plate
Wong is batting .264/.338/.375 with eight doubles and 10 RBI over 26 games, a huge resurgence from his performance last season (.190/.262/.238 over 63 games). His defense leaves much to be desired with league-average caught stealing and blocking metrics and 19th percentile framing ability.
Despite Wong's solid performance at the plate, Gasper is giving the Red Sox more than enough production to trade him as part of a trade for a righty bat (and to officially move on from the disastrous Mookie Betts trade).
Wong has two-and-a-half years remaining on his contract and his offensive improvement from last season could make him an attractive depth catcher to a team in the running for a playoff spot. He could also be traded as part of a deal for the righty bat Boston is allegedly calling around about — the Red Sox's package be substantial if the rumor about seeking a large contract is true.
Red Sox fans have called for the team to move on from Wong for years, especially after his offensive regression last season, but doing so with Gasper probably isn't what they had in mind at the time. Still, the Red Sox would have two capable catchers in the roster (Isiah Kiner-Falefa can also catch), as well as former big league backstops Matt Thaiss and Jason Delay in Triple-A Worcester to make up for Wong's absence if he's traded.
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