The Boston Red Sox somehow navigated the season relying almost entirely on one dependable catcher. Rookie Carlos Narvaez, who came over in an under-the-radar offseason deal with the New York Yankees, shouldered most of the workload, appearing in 112 games. He shared limited duties with Connor Wong, who caught 61 games but struggled heavily at the plate, producing just a .190 average, a .500 OPS, and one home run in 188 plate appearances.
In need of depth, the Red Sox finally added a third catcher on August 8, claiming Ali Sánchez, a former Toronto Blue Jays backstop, off waivers. However, Sánchez’s stint turned into one of the strangest storylines of Boston’s season. By Tuesday, the 28-year-old Venezuelan journeyman had already declared free agency — marking the end of a brief but chaotic chapter that saw him join the Red Sox twice in the same year.
During his time in Boston, Sánchez appeared in just four games, logging two plate appearances (one as a pinch hitter) and going hitless (0-for-2) with one strikeout. His Red Sox tenure was a constant shuffle: after being claimed off waivers, he was designated for assignment (DFA’d) only 10 days later to make room for newly signed first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who had been cut by the Nationals. Refusing a return to the minors, Sánchez opted for free agency and quickly signed with the New York Mets on August 23.
But his Mets stay was even shorter. Barely eight days later, New York traded him back to Boston for cash considerations. The Red Sox added him to their expanded September roster, yet he saw little action before being DFA’d again on September 21. This time, Sánchez cleared waivers and was assigned to Triple-A Worcester — though the minor league season had already ended. Boston instead sent him to their Fort Myers, Florida training complex as a reserve option for the postseason, but he was never called upon during the Red Sox’s wild card loss to the Yankees.
Because he had previously been outrighted off Boston’s 40-man roster, Sánchez became eligible for free agency once the season ended. He’s now expected to seek another opportunity, most likely on a minor-league deal.
Ironically, the most memorable moment of Sánchez’s 2025 season didn’t come behind the plate but on the mound. While with the Blue Jays on July 29, he was summoned to pitch in a 14–4 blowout loss to the Orioles. In the eighth inning, he gave up two runs on three hits, but managed to strike out Alex Jackson with a comically slow 35-mph eephus pitch — officially the slowest pitch to record a strikeout in the 2025 MLB season.
