The Red Sox returned to the spotlight on Wednesday by announcing a trade with the San Francisco Giants, acquiring 27-year-old catcher/outfielder Blake Sabol in exchange for international bonus pool space. As a result of the move, pitcher Chase Shugart was designated for assignment.
Sabol was initially selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 33rd round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of high school but opted to play college baseball at the University of Southern California instead of going pro. The decision paid off, as he was later drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB Draft.
In 2022, Sabol became eligible for the Rule 5 Draft and was picked up by the Giants. Over his professional career, he has struggled to establish himself as a consistent major-league contributor.
During his time with San Francisco, Sabol appeared in 121 games across the 2023-24 seasons, primarily in 2023. He played 110 games in his rookie season, slashing .235/.301/.394 over 344 plate appearances. The following season, he appeared in just 11 games with 38 plate appearances, hitting .313/.421/.375 before being optioned to the minors in mid-May. The Giants designated him for assignment on Saturday after signing Justin Verlander.
This acquisition marks the Red Sox’s second catcher addition in just over a month. They previously traded for Carlos Narvaez from the Yankees on Dec. 11. Adding Sabol suggests the team is focused on strengthening its catcher depth, particularly after losing Danny Jansen, who signed a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays on Dec. 12, according to Adam Berry of MLB.com.
While Sabol is unlikely to unseat current starting catcher Connor Wong, who was the team’s top hitter in 2024 per Baseball Reference and provides a valuable right-handed bat, he has a chance to compete for the backup role. His primary competition will be Narvaez, who has limited MLB experience, having appeared in only four major-league games.
Overall, the addition of Blake Sabol is not expected to significantly impact the Red Sox’s everyday roster. However, he brings some major-league experience and provides depth to a position left thinner by Jansen’s departure. With a strong spring performance, Sabol could secure a spot as Wong’s backup.
Leave a Reply