Blake Swihart

[moonslav59]

Leon's effect on payroll is roughly $2.5 mil whereas Swihart's is $910K. The money saved there might be used along with what we currently have later in the season if Leon goes. Swihart's capability at the plate is perceived to be superior from a BA standpoint. On the other hand, Swihart has more years of team control and is likely worth more in a trade.

 

Your arguments about defensive value also need to be accounted for. I think it will come down to which of Leon or Swihart get sought after by another club with backup caqtching needs

 

That $1.5M is significant, if we are really looking to stay under the max line this season.

 

I won't be crushed, if Leon is the odd man out, but my guess is Sale & maybe Price might let out a big sigh if it happens.

[Kimmi]

That $1.5M is significant, if we are really looking to stay under the max line this season.

 

I won't be crushed, if Leon is the odd man out, but my guess is Sale & maybe Price might let out a big sigh if it happens.

 

I think that when we get to the deadline, if the Sox look like they need that one piece to push them over the top, they will do what it takes to get that one piece, including going over the highest penalty line if they have to. I can't imagine Henry holding back if the team is that close to possibly repeating.

 

Holding back now is a different story because we really don't know what piece the team needs. It may turn out that we don't need any significant pieces, or it may turn out that we are so riddled with injuries that there are too many holes to fill.

[S5Dewey]

I think that when we get to the deadline, if the Sox look like they need that one piece to push them over the top, they will do what it takes to get that one piece, including going over the highest penalty line if they have to. I can't imagine Henry holding back if the team is that close to possibly repeating.

 

Holding back now is a different story because we really don't know what piece the team needs. It may turn out that we don't need any significant pieces, or it may turn out that we are so riddled with injuries that there are too many holes to fill.

 

That's all good solid logic but it ignores one thing - and I don't have an answer to this: With pennant races and playoff spots decided by only a couple of games, by the time the FO decides what the team needs they may have "waited" themselves out of a playoff spot.

[Kimmi]

That's all good solid logic but it ignores one thing - and I don't have an answer to this: With pennant races and playoff spots decided by only a couple of games, by the time the FO decides what the team needs they may have "waited" themselves out of a playoff spot.

 

That is a possiblity, for sure.

 

It's also possible that the Sox make a move now, and it's the wrong move, and they still may have unintentionally waited themselves out of a playoff spot.

 

I understand the desire to add to the pen now. Personally, I'm very good with the team as it currently stands. Unless we run into some very bad luck with injuries or underperformances, I don't think we need to worry about missing the playoffs.

[Bellhorn04]

I think the objective has to be to win the division.

 

It's said that the playoffs are a crapshoot. But getting into the Wild Card game means you have to win a coin toss before you even get into the crapshoot. It cuts your chances in half.

[notin]

That's all good solid logic but it ignores one thing - and I don't have an answer to this: With pennant races and playoff spots decided by only a couple of games, by the time the FO decides what the team needs they may have "waited" themselves out of a playoff spot.

 

 

Absolutely they could “wait” themselves out of the postseason if the bullpen sucks and they don’t react. But fixing it now operates on the assumption the bullpen will be the biggest need. Spending their limited allowance on a reliever might be unwise if there are injuries.

 

Since most teams are not swapping relievers in April and May, DD did acquire a decent amount of depth to give shots to before some other teams’ fire sale...

[Kimmi]

I think the objective has to be to win the division.

 

It's said that the playoffs are a crapshoot. But getting into the Wild Card game means you have to win a coin toss before you even get into the crapshoot. It cuts your chances in half.

 

Back to back to back to back.

 

That's all that needs to be said.

[Bellhorn04]

Back to back to back to back.

 

That's all that needs to be said.

 

Four sure.

[moonslav59]

I think waiting, despite all the risks, is the best way to go.

 

I like our roster now, and it already seems like we'll have to trade, cut or demote someone I like.

[jacksonianmarch]

Back to back to back to back.

 

That's all that needs to be said.

 

When I was in college, we won the regionals two years in a row. We made shirts for my final season that said back to back to .... long story short, we lost in the regionals. The Yanks are a scary good team, every bit as good as the Sox. I’m looking forward to using these quotes all offseason should the Yanks take the division

[moonslav59]

When I was in college, we won the regionals two years in a row. We made shirts for my final season that said back to back to .... long story short, we lost in the regionals. The Yanks are a scary good team, every bit as good as the Sox. I’m looking forward to using these quotes all offseason should the Yanks take the division

 

You won't be using them the way you hope to use them.

[harmony]

Over the Monster columnist Matt Collins weighs in on Blake Swihart:

 

https://www.overthemonster.com/2019/3/11/18259636/red-sox-catchers-blake-swihart-playing-time-sandy-leon-christian-vazquez

[moonslav59]

Over the Monster columnist Matt Collins weighs in on Blake Swihart:

 

https://www.overthemonster.com/2019/3/11/18259636/red-sox-catchers-blake-swihart-playing-time-sandy-leon-christian-vazquez

 

The conclusion...

 

I certainly would not begrudge the Red Sox for keeping Swihart over León, and the argument to do so that is perfectly sound. That being said, it may be best for the team to stick with the defense and the more known commodity. On top of that, it would almost certainly be best for Swihart to get a fresh start in another organization and make the Red Sox regret the decision once he gets that consistent playing time.

[mvp 78]

The conclusion...

 

I certainly would not begrudge the Red Sox for keeping Swihart over León, and the argument to do so that is perfectly sound. That being said, it may be best for the team to stick with the defense and the more known commodity. On top of that, it would almost certainly be best for Swihart to get a fresh start in another organization and make the Red Sox regret the decision once he gets that consistent playing time.

 

100%

[moonslav59]

100%

 

Yes.

[Kimmi]

Four sure.

 

Well played.

[Kimmi]

When I was in college, we won the regionals two years in a row. We made shirts for my final season that said back to back to .... long story short, we lost in the regionals. The Yanks are a scary good team, every bit as good as the Sox. I’m looking forward to using these quotes all offseason should the Yanks take the division

 

The Yanks were scary good on paper last season too.

 

Just remember, we have our secret weapon in Alex Cora, while you have your kryptonite in Aaron Boone.

[Kimmi]

The conclusion...

 

I certainly would not begrudge the Red Sox for keeping Swihart over León, and the argument to do so that is perfectly sound. That being said, it may be best for the team to stick with the defense and the more known commodity. On top of that, it would almost certainly be best for Swihart to get a fresh start in another organization and make the Red Sox regret the decision once he gets that consistent playing time.

 

100%

 

Second that.

[S5Dewey]

Second that.

 

Yep. I believe they hurt Swi's development when they put him in the OF where he injured his leg.

 

Do the kid a favor - play him or trade him.

[SCM33]

Unless he did amazing work over the short winter break the # of innings each catcher got in September should be pretty telling as to who Cora prefers. We were literally running away with the division and Blake hardly got a sniff as catcher. The only reason he made it onto the field in the postseason is because we thought it would be fun to play an 18 inning game......

 

From what I heard, the Sox thought the Beltran deal was a done deal.

 

He certainly would have supplanted Swihart in LF.

 

I brought it up to point out that Sox management had no road map to get Swihart as a FT starter. He was a good choice to take over in an emergency-type situation, but IMO, there was no plan to make Swihart a FT starter.

 

I'm not even sure the catching job was 100% his to start 2016. I think they may have felt Vaz needed another week to get ready, and the plan was always for Vaz to be the number 1 catcher.

 

BTW, I'm not a Swihart hater. I'm more of a Leon booster.

 

 

Over the Monster columnist Matt Collins weighs in on Blake Swihart:

 

https://www.overthemonster.com/2019/3/11/18259636/red-sox-catchers-blake-swihart-playing-time-sandy-leon-christian-vazquez

 

The conclusion...

 

I certainly would not begrudge the Red Sox for keeping Swihart over León, and the argument to do so that is perfectly sound. That being said, it may be best for the team to stick with the defense and the more known commodity. On top of that, it would almost certainly be best for Swihart to get a fresh start in another organization and make the Red Sox regret the decision once he gets that consistent playing time.

 

This all sounds great. Swihart is making the team over Leon though. Vasquez will finally be given the opportunity to be a starting catcher, and Swihart will finally be given the opportunity to develop (a couple years late, due to injury, yips, etc.) into a productive MLB hitter.

 

That being said, I have no issue with Leon being on the roster as Chris Sale's defensive binky, but the other guys need to be groomed. They are more talented and have bigger futures. The redsox success is not going to fall on the shoulders of 3 (at this time) average catchers. They need to develop the younger ones.

[harmony]

This all sounds great. Swihart is making the team over Leon though. Vasquez will finally be given the opportunity to be a starting catcher, and Swihart will finally be given the opportunity to develop (a couple years late, due to injury, yips, etc.) into a productive MLB hitter.

 

That being said, I have no issue with Leon being on the roster as Chris Sale's defensive binky, but the other guys need to be groomed. They are more talented and have bigger futures. The redsox success is not going to fall on the shoulders of 3 (at this time) average catchers. They need to develop the younger ones.

The Red Sox could clear about $7.5 million in payroll space by trading Eduardo Nunez, Sandy Leon and Jay Groome to Seattle for 19-year-old shortstop Cesar Izturis Jr.:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=izturi002ces

 

In other words, a salary dump.

[SCM33]

The Red Sox could clear about $7.5 million in payroll space by trading Eduardo Nunez, Sandy Leon and Jay Groome to Seattle for 19-year-old shortstop Cesar Izturis Jr.:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=izturi002ces

 

In other words, a salary dump.

 

Let me simplify it for you. The Sox have 3 catchers. 1 makes more than the rest. 1 is older than the rest. The other 2 have the potential to be better.

 

Simple decision.

[notin]

The Red Sox could clear about $7.5 million in payroll space by trading Eduardo Nunez, Sandy Leon and Jay Groome to Seattle for 19-year-old shortstop Cesar Izturis Jr.:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=izturi002ces

 

In other words, a salary dump.

 

 

Groome would never pass the physical. The mere act of trading him might cause shoulder soreness...

[moonslav59]

This all sounds great. Swihart is making the team over Leon though. Vasquez will finally be given the opportunity to be a starting catcher, and Swihart will finally be given the opportunity to develop (a couple years late, due to injury, yips, etc.) into a productive MLB hitter.

 

That being said, I have no issue with Leon being on the roster as Chris Sale's defensive binky, but the other guys need to be groomed. They are more talented and have bigger futures. The redsox success is not going to fall on the shoulders of 3 (at this time) average catchers. They need to develop the younger ones.

 

What about Price's "binky?" We're talking about our best two pitchers.

 

ERA

Career/2018

 

Price

2.83 Leon (769 PAs)/ 2.37 (306)

4.32 Vaz (1113 PAs)/ 4.68 (351)

5.73 Swihart (48 PAs)/ n/a

 

Sale

2.42 Leon (1250)/ 2.04 (426)

3.40 Vaz (218)/ 2.27 (191)

(Swihart has never caught Sale for even 1 batter. To me, that speaks volumes.)

 

2/5ths of our rotation and perhaps 1/2 of our playoff rotation may very well be compromised by going with Swihart over Leon.

 

[moonslav59]

The Red Sox could clear about $7.5 million in payroll space by trading Eduardo Nunez, Sandy Leon and Jay Groome to Seattle for 19-year-old shortstop Cesar Izturis Jr.:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=izturi002ces

 

In other words, a salary dump.

 

Why would Seattle want Nunez? (Just to get Groome?)

[moonslav59]

Let me simplify it for you. The Sox have 3 catchers. 1 makes more than the rest. 1 is older than the rest. The other 2 have the potential to be better.

 

Simple decision.

 

Vaz makes more than both.

 

Leon is older than both.

 

Who are the "other two?"

[harmony]

Why would Seattle want Nunez? (Just to get Groome?)

Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager will undergo surgery on a tendon in his left hand:

 

Kyle Seager has surgery, to miss April

WWW.MLB.COM

---

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Kyle Seager has been the most durable third baseman in the Majors for the past seven years, but that iron-man status hit a bump on Monday as the Mariners announced the 31-year-old was to have surgery to repair a tendon in his left hand on Tuesday and

 

The Mariners could hope to trade the expiring contract of Eduardo Nunez upon Seager's return (as the Giants did with the Red Sox in 2017).

 

Seattle reportedly is in a the market for a defensively adept catcher to complement bat-first Omar Narvaez.

 

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-still-looking-to-add-another-right-handed-hitting-catcher/

 

Jay Groome has a cavernous gap between his potential ceiling and his potential floor.

 

http://soxprospects.com/players/groome-jay.htm

 

The Mariners, who do not expect to contend this year, have a projected Opening Day payroll of $143.6 million, down from about $171 million last year:

 

 

Edited March 12, 2019 by harmony

[moonslav59]

Seattle third baseman Kyle Seager will undergo surgery on a tendon in his left hand:

 

Kyle Seager has surgery, to miss April

WWW.MLB.COM

---

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Kyle Seager has been the most durable third baseman in the Majors for the past seven years, but that iron-man status hit a bump on Monday as the Mariners announced the 31-year-old was to have surgery to repair a tendon in his left hand on Tuesday and

 

The Mariners could hope to trade the expiring contract of Eduardo Nunez upon Seager's return (as the Giants did with the Red Sox in 2017).

 

Seattle reportedly is in a the market for a defensively adept catcher to complement bat-first Omar Narvaez.

 

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-still-looking-to-add-another-right-handed-hitting-catcher/

 

Jay Groome has a cavernous gap between his projected ceiling and his projected floor.

 

Makes sense, but I really know very little about Izturis. I'm not sure, if he's better than Groome, but I guess the salary dump might still make it a good deal for both sides.

 

I'm thinking we may want to make a trade to boost our pen not our farm, but our farm does need a boost.

 

[harmony]

Makes sense, but I really know very little about Izturis. I'm not sure, if he's better than Groome, but I guess the salary dump might still make it a good deal for both sides.

 

I'm thinking we may want to make a trade to boost our pen not our farm, but our farm does need a boost.

 

Cesar Izturis Jr. has minimal trade value ... far, far less than the disreputable Jay Groome.

 

The proposed trade is a salary dump that would merely give the Red Sox payroll space to fill more pressing needs, such as the bullpen, while shedding its third catcher with no options remaining.

[moonslav59]

Cesar Izturis Jr. has minimal trade value ... far, far less than the disreputable Jay Groome.

 

The proposed trade is a salary dump that would merely give the Red Sox payroll space to fill more pressing needs, such as the bullpen, while shedding its third catcher with no options remaining.

 

I'm not sure what the Sox feel about Groome right now, but if they have high hopes, I'd think no, but yes, $7M could go a long way, if we are looking to stay under the max line.