In an effort to add catching depth ahead of spring training, the Red Sox have agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran catcher Jorge Alfaro, according to a baseball source.
Alfaro didn’t find a spot on Boston’s 40-man roster, but is likely to get a chance to compete for a roster spot in camp. Boston has only two catchers on its roster — Reese McGuire and Connor Wong — and has looked to increase their catching mix throughout the winter. While McGuire seems to have the inside track on a roster spot after a strong showing down the stretch in 2022, there is a chance that Alfaro beats out Wong and makes the Opening Day roster as the right-handed option behind the plate. Wong has minor-league options remaining.
Alfaro’s deal comes with a $2 million base salary if he makes the major league roster and opt-out on June 1 and July 1, according to one source. On those dates, if he is in Triple-A and believes he can get a major league opportunity elsewhere, he may choose to enter free agency.
Alfaro is a career .256 hitter with 47 homers, 194 RBI and .701 OPS in 478 major league games with the Phillies (2016–18), Marlins (2019–21) and Padres (2022). A former Rangers top prospect, Alfaro has been involved in two major trades in his career – the 2015 deal that sent Cole Hamels from Philadelphia to Texas and the 2019 deal that sent JT Realmuto from the Marlins to the Phillies. He spent the previous season with San Diego, hitting .246 with seven homers, 40 RBI and a .667 OPS. While he has posted three straight seasons with an OPS under .700, Alfaro has shown an ability to hit for average in the past.
