RED SOX BACKSTOPS

It sounds like Blake Swihart will no longer try to play the outfield as the Red Sox are moving him back to catcher full-time as he recovers from ankle surgery. The Sox, as currently constructed, have three catching options in Swihart, Sandy Leon and Christian Vasquez. That’s obviously one too many for the roster this season. Vazquez isn’t an offensive weapon, but he is a solid defender with a huge arm to shut down the running game. He seems like an ideal backup catching option given his skills. One has to think that means Swihart could be dealt as the Sox seem likely to start Leon at the spot.

Hard to say Leon didn’t earn the gig that after an out-of-nowhere effort last season. Leon produced a .310/.369/.476 slash line, excellent work, but there are issues. First off, he’s nowhere near talented enough to keep any of those three numbers up (note he had four hits his last 44 at-bats last season). Second, his .392 BABIP is likely to drop by a massive amount in 2017. Third, I think it’s pretty certain that he’s not going to post a 1.062 OPS against lefties again Fourth, I’m not sold that his 12.1 HR/FB ratio will continue either. Swihart, who turns 25 in April, has to stay healthy. If he can do that his talent should eventually shine through. Note that Swihart posted a .365 OBP last season in 19 games with the Sox and that his minor league slash line (.328/.340/.418) is solid. Don’t forget that entering the 2015 season that Swihart was a top-20 prospect in all of baseball according to Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus and MLB.com.

My best guess is that Leon starts for the Sox with Vazquez serving as the backup. The Sox will either trade Swihart or send him to the minors, hope he regains his stroke, proves his health, and then give the Sox an option to call upon once Leon’s offense disappoints.

Here is a video of my handsome mug breaking down the 2017 MLB Draft Guide from Fantasy Alarm.

THIS AND THAT

Jose Bautista is still without a team and it sounds like, despite previous reports, that he and his former team (the Blue Jays) are not currently actively negotiating. Maybe he will still get paid, but with each passing day it’s looking more and more like he totally misgauged his value heading into free agency.

Who will make the Hall of Fame in 2017? I gave my thoughts in my 2017 MLB HOF Ballot. On Twitter @NotMrTibbs has been collating publicly released results from HOF voters and at this point it seems like, with more than a third of all ballots counted, that Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines are nearly locks (both have more than 90 percent of the vote). Check out the list to see how your favorite player is trending.

Jason Hammel, like Bautista, misgauged his value. I’ve repeatedly, like at least 431 times (I tried to be accurate and count), said/wrote that Hammel has never thrown 180-innings in a big-league season. Talented he is, solid he is, but a workhorse he is not. Teams have taken note of that fact and as a result the 3-4 year deal that Hammel thought he was a lock to get this offseason has apparently become a 1-2 year deal. In fact, seems like most teams are interested in just a 1-year deal after Hammel struggled down the stretch before ultimately being left off the playoff roster because of elbow tightness (Hammel had a 4.35 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in the second half as he imploded with an 8.71 ERA and 1.69 WHIP in four September starts). “There are just too many questions marks surrounding him,” said an AL scout. “I’m not saying he couldn’t help someone, it’s just that he’s not a sure thing and it’s tough to commit a lot of money to that kind of player.”

Peter Abraham is predicting that Drew Pomeranz isn’t a lock for the rotation with the Red Sox, and in fact that he could open the year pitching out of the bullpen. That is at least at the start of the season to protect his arm. I can’t say that’s a bad idea at all. 

 

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