Activated C-R Christian Vazquez from the 15-day disabled list; optioned C-S Blake Swihart to Triple-A Pawtucket. [4/15]
The Blake Swihart demotion isn’t just about Christian Vazquez, and yet Vazquez is where we have to start. Twelve months removed from Tommy John surgery, Vazquez has already proven capable of gunning down runners with his plus-plus arm once again. Because of that, he’s back in the majors, and in the majors is where he belongs.
This is, unequivocally, a good thing for the Red Sox, a team that needs all the help it can get when it comes to getting results from its rotation. Vazquez is one of the best defensive catchers in the game when healthy — both by the numbers and by the eye test — and recent advancements have made us well aware of how important pitch-framing can be. While Vazquez doesn’t profile as a significant offensive threat, his .241/.312/.319 line in 208 PA belies much stronger performances in the upper minors. Pairing him with Ryan Hanigan gives the Red Sox a plus defensive and tolerable offensive couple behind the plate, and does so at very little cost.
Read the rest at Baseball Prospectus.
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Will Swihart stay at catcher – or will the Sox expand his playing time options at 1B or outfield? He’s a major league capable switch hitter – would like to see him back at the MLB level soon.