Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire opts for free agency following three seasons in Boston
Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire has become a free agent and can pursue new opportunities around the league.
McGuire elected free agency this week, according to the league’s transactions log. The 29-year-old was designated for assignment at the end of July but cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Worcester. He hit just .114 in 13 games with the WooSox.
Boston originally acquired McGuire from the White Sox as part of the Jake Diekman trade back in 2022. Primarily serving as Connor Wong’s backup with the Sox, he hit .264 with seven homers, 20 doubles, three triples, and 46 RBI in 161 games.
The Sox decided to add catcher Danny Jansen just before the trade deadline, offering them another right-handed hitter down the stretch. Jansen didn’t offer much pop, hitting just .188 with three extra-base hits in 30 games in Boston.
In an interview with MassLive's Chris Smith, McGuire said that the Red Sox removing him off the 40-man roster "caught him off guard."
“It’s just interesting. I’ll definitely say it: It caught the whole clubhouse off guard with that trade,” McGuire said. “I felt like we were really, really close-knit group. And we finished that first half really, really strong. And everyone was on the same page. Everyone was locked in and ready for that second half to kick off. Unfortunately for me, that move was made, which pretty much put the writing on the wall that the position was going to be filled.
“It’s tough because I feel like I belong in the big leagues, and this one did hurt me a lot,” McGuire said. “This one really, really did. It kind of kicked me to the ground, to be honest. Especially when no team claimed me. That was kind of the icing on the cake. It was like, ‘Holy (expletive). This is really happening right now.’”
With the emergence of top-catching prospect Kyle Teel and Wong as the primary receiver, it’s unlikely McGuire will be re-signed this offseason.
In addition to McGuire, right-handed reliever Yohan Ramírez, who appeared in one game for the Red Sox, also elected free agency. He made his team debut on July 30, giving up three runs; two of them earned off three hits in 1 1/3 inning.
