Red Sox Bolster Catching Depth with Carlos Narváez Acquisition
The Boston Red Sox have made a move to strengthen their catching corps, acquiring 26-year-old catcher Carlos Narváez from the New York Yankees. The deal sees minor league pitcher Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz and international bonus pool space heading to the Bronx Bombers.
Narváez, a Venezuela native, made his major league debut in July, appearing in six games and collecting three singles and two walks in 15 plate appearances. While his MLB experience is limited, he had a solid season in Triple-A, hitting .254/.370/.412 with 20 doubles and 11 home runs through 403 plate appearances. Narváez’s ability to draw walks (13.9% clip) and reach base at a solid rate makes him an intriguing addition to the Red Sox roster.
The righty-hitting Narváez is expected to compete for the backup catcher role, although the Red Sox may still seek a more established veteran in the coming months. With a pair of minor league options remaining, Narváez could begin the 2025 season at Triple-A Worcester.
The Yankees, who had five catchers on their 40-man roster, deemed Narváez expendable. By trading him, they’ve opened up a spot on their roster and acquired a young pitcher with potential. Rodriguez-Cruz, 21, was Boston’s fourth-round pick in 2021 and has worked as a starter in the low minors. He had a strong season between Low-A and High-A, posting a 2.91 ERA with a 27.2% strikeout percentage across 89 2/3 innings.
In addition to Rodriguez-Cruz, the Yankees also received an undisclosed amount of international bonus pool space, which they can use to sign an international amateur before the end of the signing period on Sunday.
To make room for Narváez on their 40-man roster, the Red Sox designated infielder Enmanuel Valdez for assignment. Valdez, 25, had a disappointing season, hitting .214/.270/.363 with six homers through 223 plate appearances. He has a minor league option remaining and a career .254/.345/.473 line over parts of three Triple-A seasons, making him a potential target for other teams.
The acquisition of Narváez provides the Red Sox with much-needed catching depth, and his ability to draw walks and reach base at a solid rate makes him an interesting addition to the roster. As the offseason continues to unfold, it will be worth monitoring how the Red Sox choose to utilize Narváez and whether they’ll seek additional reinforcements behind the plate.
