The Boston Red Sox traded utility infielder Tristan Gray to the Minnesota Twins for Double-A catcher Nate Baez on Wednesday, according to The Athletic's Aaron Gleeman. Boston badly needed depth at catcher before spring training begins next month, and Baez gives them just that.
The Red Sox probably won't deploy Baez much in 2026, banking on internal development with the Worcester Red Sox and Portland Sea Dogs. Baez fell outside Baseball America’s Top-30 prospects in the Twins organization. Still, in time, he could develop into a weapon, being just 24 years old.
Nate Baez Trade Gives Red Sox Some Much Needed Catcher Depth
So far, Baez has proven to be a solid contact hitter, posting a .263 batting average in the minors and a .272 BA over his career since his collegiate days playing for the Arizona State Sun Devils. In 2025, playing for the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge and High-A Cedar Rapids Kernels, Baez slashed .278/.371/.423 with eight homers and 54 RBIs.
Baez is no slouch in the field, either, having thrown out 14 of 61 runners attempting to steal (23.0%) in 29 games (28 starts). The best part about his abilities is that they're not confined to the plate, either. He's primarily a catcher, having played 932-plus innings calling the game, but he's played 684-plus innings at first base, too. He also played nine games as a designated hitter, proving that much of his value comes from his bat.
Although Connor Wong opened the 2025 campaign as the Red Sox's starting catcher, his regressing bat played a huge role in his losing that job to Carlos Narvaez. Wong recorded a career-worst .190/.262/.238 slash line in only 63 games (168 at-bats), recording only seven RBIs without a home run for the first time since 2021. That's without mentioning how his minus-0.6 WAR was also a career-worst effort.
If Wong gets off to another slow start, the Red Sox could seriously reconsider his future, potentially opening the door for Baez to make his MLB debut (assuming he plays well in the minors). Meanwhile, Narvaez will resume the starting role after finishing sixth in the American League Rookie of the Year voting due to his amassing 15 HRs, 50 RBIs, 38 walks, and a .241/.306/.419 line in his first Red Sox campaign.
There's also former 2021 fifth-rounder Nathan Hickey on the depth chart. The former Florida Gator experienced his first full Triple-A season last year, tallying 17 HRs and 75 RBIs with a .733 OPS in 128 games. He's a likelier MLB promotion than Baez; however, only time will tell if Hickey will regress and open the door for a depth chart shake-up.
Baez might not be a Major Leaguer right away, but he has potential. That's all the Red Sox can ask for after how uninspiring their catching situation beyond Narvaez was last season.