Swihart To Undergo Ankle Surgery

[moonslav59]

From MLBTR

 

By Steve Adams | August 9, 2016 at 10:42pm CDT

 

Red Sox catcher/outfielder Blake Swihart will undergo ankle surgery in the coming days, manager John Farrell told reporters following tonight’s game against the Yankees (Twitter link via Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald).

 

The operation figures to end Swihart’s sophomore season with just 19 games and 74 plate appearances in the books at the big league level this year. Early on, the 24-year-old former top prospect had a chance to cement himself behind the plate for the Sox but eventually found himself optioned back to Triple-A to work on his defense. Upon his return to the Majors he played exclusively in left field prior to suffering a severe high ankle sprain that ultimately led to the upcoming operation.

 

Swihart’s season will conclude with a .258/.365/.355 batting line. He collected three extra-base hits — bizarrely, all triples — and will head into the offseason with a cumulative .271/.321/.386 slash in 383 Major League plate appearances across 103 big league games. While Swihart was near-universally considered one of the game’s top 20 prospects prior to the 2015 season, he’s yet to tap into the potential that made him such a coveted component of the Boston farm system. With both Swihart and Christian Vazquez failing to definitively seize the catching job in Boston — Sandy Leon and Bryan Holaday are currently splitting catching duties for the Sox, with Ryan Hanigan on the disabled list — the long-term outlook behind the plate in Boston remains somewhat muddled.

 

Swihart has spent the bulk of the 2016 season either in the Majors or on the Major League disabled list and as such will accrue more than enough service time to take him past one full year of service. He’ll still have a minor league option remaining next season, so the Sox could give him further time to work on his game in the minors if he doesn’t grab hold of a roster spot in Spring Training. Boston controls Swihart through at least the 2021 season, and depending on how his time is divided between the Majors and minors next season, he could end up in Super Two territory, making him arbitration eligible four times.

[moonslav59]

I hope he recovers quickly and fully.

 

With Beni off to a nice start, LF might be blocked.

 

One wonders about his chances going back to catching.

 

His trade chances may be on hold, until he comes back healthy.

[moonslav59]

Prince Fielder's career is over.

 

Word is he is all done due to medical issues.

 

He is owed $24M a year until 2020.

 

$9M from Rangers

$9M from insurance

$6M from Tigers

 

 

.

[kenmeister]

From MLBTR

 

By Steve Adams | August 9, 2016 at 10:42pm CDT

 

Red Sox catcher/outfielder Blake Swihart will undergo ankle surgery in the coming days, manager John Farrell told reporters following tonight’s game against the Yankees (Twitter link via Evan Drellich of the Boston Herald).

 

The operation figures to end Swihart’s sophomore season with just 19 games and 74 plate appearances in the books at the big league level this year. Early on, the 24-year-old former top prospect had a chance to cement himself behind the plate for the Sox but eventually found himself optioned back to Triple-A to work on his defense. Upon his return to the Majors he played exclusively in left field prior to suffering a severe high ankle sprain that ultimately led to the upcoming operation.

 

Swihart’s season will conclude with a .258/.365/.355 batting line. He collected three extra-base hits — bizarrely, all triples — and will head into the offseason with a cumulative .271/.321/.386 slash in 383 Major League plate appearances across 103 big league games. While Swihart was near-universally considered one of the game’s top 20 prospects prior to the 2015 season, he’s yet to tap into the potential that made him such a coveted component of the Boston farm system. With both Swihart and Christian Vazquez failing to definitively seize the catching job in Boston — Sandy Leon and Bryan Holaday are currently splitting catching duties for the Sox, with Ryan Hanigan on the disabled list — the long-term outlook behind the plate in Boston remains somewhat muddled.

 

Swihart has spent the bulk of the 2016 season either in the Majors or on the Major League disabled list and as such will accrue more than enough service time to take him past one full year of service. He’ll still have a minor league option remaining next season, so the Sox could give him further time to work on his game in the minors if he doesn’t grab hold of a roster spot in Spring Training. Boston controls Swihart through at least the 2021 season, and depending on how his time is divided between the Majors and minors next season, he could end up in Super Two territory, making him arbitration eligible four times.

 

I didn't know that, thanks for the article. Here's hoping Swihart becomes our everyday catcher next year. Look how many home-grown players are potentially starters next year:

 

RF Mookie Betts

2B Dustin Pedroia

SS Xander Bogaerts

CF Jackie Bradley Jr

DH Hanley Ramirez

1B Travis Shaw

3B Yoan Moncada

LF Andrew Benitendi

C Blake Swihart

[a700hitter]

I didn't know that, thanks for the article. Here's hoping Swihart becomes our everyday catcher next year. Look how many home-grown players are potentially starters next year:

 

RF Mookie Betts

2B Dustin Pedroia

SS Xander Bogaerts

CF Jackie Bradley Jr

DH Hanley Ramirez

1B Travis Shaw

3B Yoan Moncada

LF Andrew Benitendi

C Blake Swihart

I don't see a future for him with the Red Sox. He is far from being a good defensive catcher and he is blocked at every outfield position. I am hoping that he gets his ankle healthy so we can use him to get pitching in the off season.

[bosoxmal]

Right people, wrong batting order.

[sk7326]

Lost year for him - let's hope he bounces back. Either way, selling low on him doesn't make much sense - he is still their best bet at getting a premium player at the C position, although Leon has been outstanding. Get him healthy, see what happens. After all, the bet on Leon turning into a pumpkin eventually is the percentage one.

[a700hitter]

I don't think we will be selling low on him. He has performed well. He just got injured. If his ankle heals well, he should still have good trade value. He isn't going to learn to catch in AAA if Vasquez is there.

[sk7326]

I don't think we will be selling low on him. He has performed well. He just got injured. If his ankle heals well, he should still have good trade value. He isn't going to learn to catch in AAA if Vasquez is there.

 

The Vasquez question will be the interesting one. He clearly has excellent defensive and framing tools. His game calling (from what evidence there is) was not special, and he has not shown an ability to hit at the big league level. That is a fringy starter/really good 2nd guy.

 

Clearly Leon is the starter if you believe this is for real - and there is no evidence from his prior career that you should. This where the scouts matter - has Leon done something meaningful to change his trajectory.

[mvp 78]

I don't think we will be selling low on him. He has performed well. He just got injured. If his ankle heals well, he should still have good trade value. He isn't going to learn to catch in AAA if Vasquez is there.

 

Vazquez should still be in Boston.

 

Swihart should have never been put in LF. At this point, what even is his trade value?

[Behindenemylines]

I hope he recovers quickly and fully.

 

With Beni off to a nice start, LF might be blocked.

 

One wonders about his chances going back to catching.

 

His trade chances may be on hold, until he comes back healthy.

 

With Benintendi looking like he is the real deal in LF the Sox should move Swihart back to C. Because his season is over I think he starts in AAA in '17. As the catching situation long term is still up in the air his best value to the Sox would be as a catcher. Whether he ends up as the catcher of the future or is a piece that can bring back pitching I think his best value is as a catcher.

[SoxnCycles]

The Vasquez question will be the interesting one. He clearly has excellent defensive and framing tools. His game calling (from what evidence there is) was not special, and he has not shown an ability to hit at the big league level. That is a fringy starter/really good 2nd guy.

 

Clearly Leon is the starter if you believe this is for real - and there is no evidence from his prior career that you should. This where the scouts matter - has Leon done something meaningful to change his trajectory.

 

If he were 30 or older, I'd say it's doubtful.

I think Leon is still young enough to have figured out what he was missing previously.

Could be someone in the Sox org really helped him out.

[mvp 78]

If he were 30 or older, I'd say it's doubtful.

I think Leon is still young enough to have figured out what he was missing previously.

Could be someone in the Sox org really helped him out.

 

After a strong 2012, Nationals blogger wrote this about him:

 

"19) Sandy Leon, C, Grade C: Defense-oriented catcher can have long career as a backup. Hit .322/.396/.460 this year at three minor league levels, but this was completely out of context with the rest of his career and looks fluky to me. "

 

There are lots of articles about him tearing up the winter league in 2013. Maybe it wasn't such a fluke after all?

 

I don't think he's a .300 hitter, but could he hit .275? Sure seems like it.

[sk7326]

If he were 30 or older, I'd say it's doubtful.

I think Leon is still young enough to have figured out what he was missing previously.

Could be someone in the Sox org really helped him out.

 

I agree with you - I am just not educated enough in this to see it. His .440 BABIP is crazy. You back that up to .300 and he suddenly is a .257 hitter ... which is a different deal (although still probably a perfect acceptable starter). Vasquez had a .286 BABIP this year, so his travails were not necessarily influenced by that sort of randomness.

[sk7326]

After a strong 2012, Nationals blogger wrote this about him:

 

"19) Sandy Leon, C, Grade C: Defense-oriented catcher can have long career as a backup. Hit .322/.396/.460 this year at three minor league levels, but this was completely out of context with the rest of his career and looks fluky to me. "

 

There are lots of articles about him tearing up the winter league in 2013. Maybe it wasn't such a fluke after all?

 

I don't think he's a .300 hitter, but could he hit .275? Sure seems like it.

 

He is not going to be a .440 BABIP guy forever. But if you normalize for that, he is still a .250 to .265 hitter which seems plausible - and with his defense is a perfectly good starter.

[a700hitter]

Joey Bats was discarded by about 3 teams before landing with the Jays discovering the leg kick and turning around his career.

[Behindenemylines]

If he were 30 or older, I'd say it's doubtful.

I think Leon is still young enough to have figured out what he was missing previously.

Could be someone in the Sox org really helped him out.

 

I view Leon as the starter until someone proves that wrong. He continues to hit, and his defense and the handling of the staff has been good. The kid is 27 and a switch hitter. It would be great that the Sox lucked into this. He was signed as a depth player, and because of injuries and Vasquez's lack of hitting has emerged as the starting catcher. The Sox could have had another such player with Rich Hill. I'd liked to know the rational for not signing him this past off season.

[sk7326]

Joey Bats was discarded by about 3 teams before landing with the Jays discovering the leg kick and turning around his career.

 

I think with Leon it is likely both things are true at the same time - that he has figured out some stuff to save his career, and he has been riding some incredible luck.

[mvp 78]

He is not going to be a .440 BABIP guy forever. But if you normalize for that, he is still a .250 to .265 hitter which seems plausible - and with his defense is a perfectly good starter.

 

It helps that his line drive rate increased, his infield fly ball rate decreased and his hard hit % skyrocketed. Looks like he's just making better contact?

[SoxnCycles]

I agree with you - I am just not educated enough in this to see it. His .440 BABIP is crazy. You back that up to .300 and he suddenly is a .257 hitter ... which is a different deal (although still probably a perfect acceptable starter). Vasquez had a .286 BABIP this year, so his travails were not necessarily influenced by that sort of randomness.

 

Yup, his current BABIP isn't going to last, but I'll take .260 from a good defensive catcher all day.

 

I'm hoping Vazquez can get there as well. I enjoy watching him play.

[a700hitter]

I think with Leon it is likely both things are true at the same time - that he has figured out some stuff to save his career, and he has been riding some incredible luck.

I don't expect him to hit .400 for the remainder of the season. .260 with a .325 OBP would be just fine to keep him as a starter.

[illinoisredsox]

I view Leon as the starter until someone proves that wrong. He continues to hit, and his defense and the handling of the staff has been good. The kid is 27 and a switch hitter. It would be great that the Sox lucked into this. He was signed as a depth player, and because of injuries and Vasquez's lack of hitting has emerged as the starting catcher. The Sox could have had another such player with Rich Hill. I'd liked to know the rational for not signing him this past off season.

 

He wanted a guaranteed starting spot, they could/would not give that to him.

 

Remember, the projected starters were Price, Buchholz, Porcello, ERod and ?. Wright, Hill, Owens and who knows who else were supposed to compete for that last spot. Nobody could have forseen ERod getting hurt and Buchholz sucking as badly as he did (he underperformed the low expectations even his harshest critics had for him).

 

Edit - I forgot Miley was still in the equation when all this came down in November. Add one more to the list.

Edited August 10, 2016 by illinoisredsox

[a700hitter]

He wanted a guaranteed starting spot, they could/would not give that to him.

 

Remember, the projected starters were Price, Buchholz, Porcello, ERod and ?. Wright, Hill, Owens and who knows who else were supposed to compete for that last spot. Nobody could have forseen ERod getting hurt and Buchholz sucking as badly as he did (even his harshest critics have to admit he underperformed the low expectations they had for him).

I think that we only offered him a minor league deal and he wanted a major league deal. I don't think that he demanded a rotation spot.

[illinoisredsox]

I think that we only offered him a minor league deal and he wanted a major league deal. I don't think that he demanded a rotation spot.

 

Not according to these:

 

http://www.overthemonster.com/2016/5/9/11639650/red-sox-rich-hill-free-agent-rumors

 

http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/john-tomase/2016/05/09/rich-hill-one-got-away-thats-ok-because-he-has

 

Both indicate he "wanted a clear shot at starting", to quote the weei link

[mvp 78]

I think that we only offered him a minor league deal and he wanted a major league deal. I don't think that he demanded a rotation spot.

 

Well, you'd be wrong. http://www.overthemonster.com/2016/5/9/11639650/red-sox-rich-hill-free-agent-rumors

 

President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski makes it clear he believes that the spot the A's could offer was the real decision maker for the southpaw.

 

"We like what he did for us last year," Dombrowski said. "He pitched very well. It wasn't like we could look at him and say he was a guaranteed starter. We knew we were going to try to add a guy at the top of the rotation. He would've been in competition, and he also would've been a guy if he wasn't starting for us that we could've put into the bullpen. But he just had such a good opportunity with Oakland."

[Eddy Ballgame]

I think that we only offered him a minor league deal and he wanted a major league deal. I don't think that he demanded a rotation spot.

 

Rich Hill never demanded a rotation spot, but Oakland guaranteed him one. That was something the Sox wouldn't do.

[greenwell]

It helps that his line drive rate increased, his infield fly ball rate decreased and his hard hit % skyrocketed. Looks like he's just making better contact?

 

Exactly.

I don't get this infatuation with BABIP and this belief that it should regress to a norm. Yes, .440 is abnormally high, but there is no reason to believe it should be .300. Do people really think that if you don't strikeout or hit a home run everything else is just luck? Hitting more line drives and hitting to all fields don't mean anything?

[User Name]

I think that we only offered him a minor league deal and he wanted a major league deal. I don't think that he demanded a rotation spot.

 

This is incorrect. They offered an MLB deal for similar money but would not guarantee a rotation spot.

[a700hitter]

Well, you'd be wrong. http://www.overthemonster.com/2016/5/9/11639650/red-sox-rich-hill-free-agent-rumors

 

President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski makes it clear he believes that the spot the A's could offer was the real decision maker for the southpaw.

 

"We like what he did for us last year," Dombrowski said. "He pitched very well. It wasn't like we could look at him and say he was a guaranteed starter. We knew we were going to try to add a guy at the top of the rotation. He would've been in competition, and he also would've been a guy if he wasn't starting for us that we could've put into the bullpen. But he just had such a good opportunity with Oakland."

It wouldn't be the first time that my memory failed me, but my the memory is still 98.6% accurate (just like my body temperature), I am still holding to my assertion that we only offered him a minor league deal. The author didn't say what kind of deal we offered him.

[mvp 78]

Exactly.

I don't get this infatuation with BABIP and this belief that it should regress to a norm. Yes, .440 is abnormally high, but there is no reason to believe it should be .300. Do people really think that if you don't strikeout or hit a home run everything else is just luck? Hitting more line drives and hitting to all fields don't mean anything?

 

Well, it's easier to just look at BABIP and say "fluke" than to actually wonder why some people have higher BABIP's to begin with.