Alex Cora weighs in as to why Reese McGuire was DFA’d
With new backup catcher Danny Jansen in the fold, the Red Sox designated Reese McGuire for assignment on Sunday afternoon.
“Reese did a good job, especially defensively, the last month and a half,” Alex Cora told reporters. “You look at the numbers; as far as framing, he was in the top three in the league and did an amazing job with the pitching staff. It was tough because he wasn’t playing that much, and so for him to get into a rhythm, coming into the season I expected him to play more, but then Connor (Wong) happened.”
McGuire, who has been with the Red Sox since 2022, has been underwhelming at the plate this season.
Offensively this season, McGuire has swung an anemic bat, slashing a .209/.280/.295 batting line and 59 wRC+. The left-handed hitter is known as a strong defender; he has seven Defensive Runs Saved in his career, per FanGraphs.
Boston acquired Jansen from the Blue Jays for three prospects on Saturday, giving the club a much-needed right-handed hitter, and it’ll allow the team to move Wong around the diamond.
Wong is expected to catch the majority of games for the Boston, but Cora told reporters he could also see time at first base and second base.
“But at the same time, don’t be surprised if you see Connor start taking more ground balls at second base and first base,” Cora said. “He is that versatile. He’s such a good athlete. You’ve seen it. Close games he has played second. We’ll figure it out. We’ve still got a few days for this (the trade deadline) to be over and we can have our team.
"Whatever it is, it’s going to be our team, and we’re going to be ready for it. But I think there’s ways to have them both in the lineup, and it doesn’t have to be DH/catcher.”
