Red Sox manager Alex Cora likes what he’s heard about new catcher Carlos Narvaez
The Red Sox added a new catcher to the big league roster in December when they acquired Carlos Narvaez from the Yankees for a minor league pitcher.
The 26-year-old is expected to serve as Connor Wong’s backup unless Boston adds another possible backup before spring training gets underway in a few weeks.
Alex Cora has heard good things from Narvaez’ former manager, Aaron Boone.
“Physical. Strong kid, good athlete, good framer,” Cora said Saturday at Fenway Fest. “I talked to Booney (Yankees manager Aaron Boone) about him. He really likes him as a person.”
Narváez was red hot at the plate for Cardenales de Lara, where he hit .377 with five homers, 18 RBI, seven doubles, and five stolen bases with a .456 on-base percentage, a .662 slugging percentage, and a 1.118 OPS in 25 games.
“He did an outstanding job in Venezuela offensively,” Cora said. “So it will be good for him to get at-bats (in spring training), and let’s see.”
Narváez made his major league debut last season, playing in six games with the Yankees. He went 3-for-13 with three singles, two walks, and six strikeouts. Defensively, he threw out 1 of 2 base stealers.
Cora didn’t shut the door on the club adding another experienced catcher this offseason.
“The offseason is not over yet,” Cora said. “We know that. ... Brez (chief baseball officer Craig Breslow) and the group are doing an amazing job trying to get us better, especially on the edge of the roster. And I think that’s something we’re looking at.”
Boston also has Seby Zavala, who the club signed to a minor league deal this offseason. He is expected to begin the year with the WooSox but will serve as a veteran catching option if needed by the Red Sox.
“Seby’s here, too,” Cora said to reporters. “So he’s part of that.”
The veteran served as the backup to starter Cal Raleigh to begin the season. He slashed .154/.214/.282 with two doubles, one home run, two RBIs, four runs scored, three walks, and 16 strikeouts in 18 games (43 plate appearances) for the Mariners before being designated for assignment on June 18. Zavala ranked in the 87th percentile of all MLB catchers in blocks above average and the 77th percentile in framing, per Baseball Savant. This past season, he threw out three of 14 possible base stealers with Seattle and three of 32 possible base stealers with Tacoma.
Narvaez was in Boston for Fenway Fest and will be on Tuesday for the Red Sox’ 2025 Rookie Development Program. While playing in Triple-A, Narváez batted .254 with a .370 on-base percentage, a .412 slugging percentage, a .782 OPS, 11 homers, 20 doubles, 58 RBIs, 54 runs, and 56 walks and 105 strikeouts in 96 games. Throughout his minor league career, the 26-year-old has thrown out 30% of base stealers.
The 26-year-old, the cousin of Omar Narváez, was considered one of the best defensive catchers in the Yankees’ system entering the 2024 campaign. In his limited stint at the big league level, his pop time was 1.92, according to Baseball Savant. Narváez’s bat is more of a question mark versus his defensive profile. He was in the 90th percentile in exit velocity at 105.2 mph while missing 31% of the time.
Boston should add another veteran before camp opens and have competition for the backup job. There’s a possibility that another catcher could come in a trade, with rumors of the Red Sox having interest in the Cardinals young backstop Ivan Herrera.
