Blake Swihart

[notin]

As the off-season lumbers to its eventual and unspectacular halt, DD seemingly has one last item on his checklist, namely clearing up the catching situation. This leaves the speculation as to what Hall end to the Sox most expendable catcher - Blake Swihart

[mvp 78]

If he had much value, they would have traded him last year. He'll get traded for a AAAA arm.

[BillyWilliams]

If he had much value, they would have traded him last year. He'll get traded for a AAAA arm.

 

I agree

[Kimmi]

Dombrowski seems unwilling to part with any of the catchers unless he gets back what he deems to be fair value. He also seems unwilling to DFA Swihart.

 

It might be that we ride things out with 3 catchers for a little while.

[Bellhorn04]

My option was left out of the poll - No Freakin' Idea!

[FredLynn]

Watches Leon get traded and becomes the backup catcher to Vas.

[fxkatt]

Watches Leon get traded and becomes the backup catcher to Vas.

 

Yup, this is what the poll leaves out. I would select this one.

[notin]

Why would any team trade for $2.75mill worth of Leon when they can negotiate with Martin Maldonado and likely come up with a lower number without giving anything up? It might be one thing to acquire Leon as part of a salary dump, but I don’t think Boston is in position to receive one right now...

[Bellhorn04]

Why would any team trade for $2.75mill worth of Leon when they can negotiate with Martin Maldonado and likely come up with a lower number without giving anything up? It might be one thing to acquire Leon as part of a salary dump, but I don’t think Boston is in position to receive one right now...

 

Agreed. No one trades for Leon.

 

My guess is that no one is very interested in any of our catchers right now and that's why we still have three of them.

[notin]

Dombrowski seems unwilling to part with any of the catchers unless he gets back what he deems to be fair value. He also seems unwilling to DFA Swihart.

 

It might be that we ride things out with 3 catchers for a little while.

 

 

But the issue for this is that the Sox need to get down to 25 players for opening day. They’re not going to demote Devers or Benintendi in order to keep Swihart...

[notin]

Agreed. No one trades for Leon.

 

My guess is that no one is very interested in any of our catchers right now and that's why we still have three of them.

 

 

And I don’t see that changing. I think Swihart gets DFAd right before opening day. And at that stage in the game, he might even clear waivers...

[Bellhorn04]

And I don’t see that changing. I think Swihart gets DFAd right before opening day. And at that stage in the game, he might even clear waivers...

 

Cue Swihart hitting .425 with a few dingers in the spring.

[notin]

Cue Swihart hitting .425 with a few dingers in the spring.

 

I do wonder if that changes any opinion of him. Sam “Mr. March” Travis does that every year and I doubt he could be traded for a new batboy...

[moonslav59]

And I don’t see that changing. I think Swihart gets DFAd right before opening day. And at that stage in the game, he might even clear waivers...

 

How does it work on his pay? Do we need to DFA him before opening day to avoid owing him his money?

 

I still think we trade him for a "non-descript minor leaguer" maybe slightly better.

[FredLynn]

Why would any team trade for $2.75mill worth of Leon when they can negotiate with Martin Maldonado and likely come up with a lower number without giving anything up? It might be one thing to acquire Leon as part of a salary dump, but I don’t think Boston is in position to receive one right now...

 

Some folks here are convinced that because of Leon our pitchers are so "comfortable" on the mound. Maybe thats true. And maybe some other GM will see that too. And $2.75M nowadays isn't really a king's ransom, is it.

[Jack Flap]

I voted "Traded for non-descript minor leaguer." Much as I'd like to believe in Swihart (being a Sox draftee, former top prospect, and all that), the fact is that he had no trade value and wasn't trusted enough by the team to be given any defined role or appreciable playing time a year ago, and I don't know what possibly could have happened since then to alter that equation. Assuming his future isn't here, I'd like to see some rebuilding club take a flyer on him and give him a chance to prove himself once and for all...we ought to get something back, but I'm not really expecting much.

[Slasher9]

It might be that we ride things out with 3 catchers for a little while.

 

this. it wasnt a poll choice tho....

[Slasher9]

But the issue for this is that the Sox need to get down to 25 players for opening day. They’re not going to demote Devers or Benintendi in order to keep Swihart...

 

you assume pedroia will be on the 25 man. i don't think he makes it thru ST unscathed....

[notin]

Some folks here are convinced that because of Leon our pitchers are so "comfortable" on the mound. Maybe thats true. And maybe some other GM will see that too. And $2.75M nowadays isn't really a king's ransom, is it.

 

I’m convinced he’s our best defensive catcher. His offense is abysmal, but let’s not pretend Vazquez is some poor man’s Buster Posey out there.

 

And $2.75mill sometimes seems like a pittance in baseball, but the Sox, universally agreed upon as needing bullpen help, have let relief pitchers making that much or less sign elsewhere.

 

Heck, teams go to arbitration, a process that can and often does involve alienating players, over less than $2.75mill all the time...

[notin]

How does it work on his pay? Do we need to DFA him before opening day to avoid owing him his money?

 

I still think we trade him for a "non-descript minor leaguer" maybe slightly better.

 

 

I think his deal is non-guaranteed if he is released/DFAd before opening day. But if he re-signs, he would get a substantial chunk back and his potential bonus for making the 25-man roster might exceed his current salary...

[mvp 78]

you assume pedroia will be on the 25 man. i don't think he makes it thru ST unscathed....

 

Sig bet that he starts Opening Day?

[notin]

you assume pedroia will be on the 25 man. i don't think he makes it thru ST unscathed....

 

 

That’s under the assumption EVERYONE makes it through spring training unscathed, but players get injured every March.

 

However, that doesn’t remove the possibility...

[Slasher9]

Sig bet that he starts Opening Day?

 

bet.

sig until we reach minimum 15 wins & 15 losses (30 game minimum) for our beloved #15.

for reference we didnt get our 15th loss until our 45th game - may 18th - last season (30-15)

[mvp 78]

bet.

sig until we reach minimum 15 wins & 15 losses (30 game minimum) for our beloved #15.

for reference we didnt get our 15th loss until our 45th game - may 18th - last season (30-15)

 

[fxkatt]

I still don't get why Vasquez, who has a higher salary than Sandy Leon, would be traded (see poll choice) while Leon would not be because his salary is too high. ?? That's why I thought both should have been poll choices. And why I would have chosen Leon traded and Swihart becomes the backup.

[notin]

I still don't get why Vasquez, who has a higher salary than Sandy Leon, would be traded (see poll choice) while Leon would not be because his salary is too high. ?? That's why I thought both should have been poll choices. And why I would have chosen Leon traded and Swihart becomes the backup.

 

 

Well, this is a conversation to have with Dombrowski, who is looking to move either Swihart or Vazquez, but not Leon.

 

It could be that he and others have more faith in Vazquez at the plate, therefore he can be marketed as the more complete player? Or maybe the additional control? (Leon has one year left)

[Larry Cook]

Our pitchers appear to love throwing to Vazquez and Leon. Why mess with a pitchers head?

 

We already have substandard defense in most of the infield, why put swihart behind the dish and make that a defensive black hole as well?

 

A happy pitcher is a good thing for our team.

[oldtimer]

My option was left out of the poll - No Freakin' Idea!

 

So was mine, none of the above. Seems like notin doesn't think Swiart has any chance of being our second catcher.

[oldtimer]

Well, this is a conversation to have with Dombrowski, who is looking to move either Swihart or Vazquez, but not Leon.

 

It could be that he and others have more faith in Vazquez at the plate, therefore he can be marketed as the more complete player? Or maybe the additional control? (Leon has one year left)

 

Where have you gotten your information? I see nothing in writing to support your contention. DD is saying 3 catchers go to ST and compete for the job, unless someone offers a trade alternative that he likes.

[notin]

So was mine, none of the above. Seems like notin doesn't think Swiart has any chance of being our second catcher.

 

Hey, I'm only going by what I read.

 

To me, it looks like the plan is either Vazquez/Leon or Swihart/Leon...