Even though it was a rare trade with the New York Yankees, the Red Sox’s December acquisition of rookie catcher Carlos Narváez from their eternal rivals flew somewhat under the radar.
For starters, it happened the same day the Red Sox acquired star left-hander Garrett Crochet from the White Sox, in a trade that sent their top catching prospect, Kyle Teel, to Chicago. And as Narváez himself acknowledged to the Herald, his new organization spent the offseason adding several established veterans and stars, including Alex Bregman and Walker Buehler.
Then, Narváez came into his first Red Sox camp and competed with several other catchers for the backup job, which he won.
Now, with longtime catcher Connor Wong out since April 7 due to a hand fracture, Narváez has stepped into the everyday role, and impressed his coaches in the process.
“Carlos is what we envisioned,” longtime Red Sox catcher, captain, and current coach Jason Varitek told the Herald. “An elite defender, an elite receiver.”
“In a nutshell, Carlos is a baseball player,” added Varitek, “and it’s a compliment (to him) and a compliment for this industry and Red Sox Nation. He’s a baseball player and he exudes baseball.”
“He’s an elite framer,” concurred pitching coach Andrew Bailey. “He works really well with our guys.”
Narváez ran the gauntlet in spring training, as the Red Sox tried to make sure he not only caught as many of the pitchers as possible, but worked with them in multiple settings.
“The good part is he was here all spring,” said Varitek, whom the Red Sox acquired as a prospect during the 1997 season in one of the greatest and most lopsided trades in franchise history. “We try and match (catchers) up to where they get through everybody, but there were some (pitchers) he didn’t quite get to. I don’t think he had Crochet as a start until his last one, he hadn’t had (Richard) Fitts until his last one. It’s the mix-match game in spring training trying to make sure they get to everybody.
“One: you see them in the ‘pen. Two: you see them in games. And most importantly now is getting them in real games because there’s like three phases and working your way to get through all three.”
All while fighting for a place on the team.
“Coming into spring training and having 40-some odd pitchers, and then having the stress of trying to focus on making the roster and focusing on games,” said Bailey. “It’s a lot.”
That’s what most impresses the coaches: not only the mountains Narváez is climbing, but the energy he brings to the endeavor. Asked which pitcher he most enjoys catching, for example, Narváez couldn’t choose.
“Everyone,” he said earnestly. “I love every guy.”
“He’s been a treat to work with,” Bailey said. “Very vocal, very studied, prepared, and continued to work to be on the same page and leverage these guys’ best offerings as best as we can.”
“When he smiles, his demeanor, and the way he goes about his business,” Varitek said. “And he’s prepared. He’s a joy to be around. He’s a joy.”
Few players have a bigger place in the history of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry than Varitek. It’s already come up in their conversations, and the captain assumes they’ll dig a little deeper in June, when Narváez gets his first turn.
“What makes those games is obviously our fan bases and the history,” Varitek said with a chuckle. “When they come, I’m sure we’ll get into more, but we’re in the moment right now as much as we can, and he’s been a great part of that.”
When the rivals meet, Varitek thinks Narváez will be fueled by something special.
“You’re flipping sides and you’re flipping emotions. I’m sure he felt a different way early on in his career (before) now,” Varitek said. “We traded for him, we wanted him, so he can always have that in his pocket that he’s a Red Sox, because we wanted him.”