Red Sox Bolster Depth with Minor League Deals for Seby Zavala and Nate Eaton

The Boston Red Sox have signed catcher Seby Zavala and utility player Nate Eaton to minor league contracts, as reflected in the team’s transactions log onMLB.com.Both players will receive invitations to major league spring training, with Eaton earning a $780K base salary if he makes it onto the 40-man roster, according to Jon Morosi ofMLB.com.

Seby Zavala, represented by Headline Sports Group, spent the 2024 season with the Seattle Mariners organization. He joined the Mariners along with reliever prospect Carlos Vargas in a trade that sent Eugenio Suarez to the Diamondbacks. Zavala, known for his defensive prowess behind the plate, was expected to serve as the backup to Mariners' primary catcher Cal Raleigh.

Unfortunately, Zavala’s performance at the plate didn’t meet expectations. In a limited sample of 43 plate appearances, the 31-year-old posted a .154/.214/.282 slash line, leading the Mariners to designate him for assignment three times. Despite these setbacks, Zavala opted to stay with the organization through outright assignments until becoming a free agent at season’s end.

Over his MLB career, Zavala has played in 194 games, maintaining a .205/.271/.342 batting average. While he has shown some power potential, his high strikeout rate of 35.9% in 557 plate appearances has hindered his offensive consistency. However, Zavala’s defensive skills are well-regarded, with elite framing marks and above-average grades for blocking pitches, according to Statcast. With only two catchers on their 40-man roster, Connor Wong and Mickey Gasper, the Red Sox are adding valuable depth with Zavala.

Nate Eaton, set to turn 28 next month, is represented by Gaeta Sports Management. Though he did not play in the major leagues last season, Eaton has previous experience with the Kansas City Royals, where he played 72 games from 2022-23. Despite a .201/.266/.283 batting line in the majors, Eaton has demonstrated solid performance in Triple-A, hitting .261/.320/.455 with 40 home runs and 60 stolen bases over 255 games.

Eaton’s versatility is one of his key strengths, having played primarily third base but also logging significant time at all three outfield positions, second base, and shortstop. Statcast ranked him in the 97th percentile for sprint speed during his MLB tenure.

​Boston’s bench appears to have some openings, with utility player Rob Refsnyder likely securing one spot and Gasper potentially backing up Wong. Other players like Romy Gonzalez, Nick Sogard, Enmanuel Valdez, and Vaughn Grissom are also in the mix, but Eaton’s versatility could give him an edge, particularly with a strong showing in spring training or early in the season at Triple-A Worcester.

​By signing Zavala and Eaton, the Red Sox are ensuring they have the depth and flexibility needed to navigate the challenges of the upcoming season.