FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox may have a new potential trade partner in their talks involving catchers.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez damaged the UCL in his throwing elbow during a workout Wednesday and will have a second opinion next week. Though nothing is certain at this point, most cases of UCL damage lead to Tommy John surgery and the player missing about a year of action.

Perez has caught an average of 120 games for the Royals over the last four years, establishing himself as an ironman-like catcher in an era where duties are usually split among two players. The only other two catchers on the team’s 40-man roster are Cam Gallagher and Meibrys Viloria (who have appeared in a combined 45 major-league games).

Martin Maldonado remains available as a free agent, so he could be an option for Kansas City. If he’s not, the Royals are likely to turn to potential trade partners and could look to pry Sandy Leon, Christian Vazquez or Blake Swihart away from Boston.

The Red Sox have been looking to trade one of their catchers since the end of last season but have struggled finding a trade partner. The expectation is still that they’ll move one of the three before Opening Day, with needs opening up throughout the league due to injuries or free-agent moves.