Alyson Footer of MLB.com reports (via Twitter) that the Astros have sent catcher Kevin Cash to Boston in exchange for minor league infielder Angel Sanchez.
This is Cash's second stint with the Red Sox, as he served as the team's backup catcher in 2007 and 2008. Cash was designated for assignment by Houston last week and ended up in the minors, though it was rumored that Boston could be interested in bringing him back to add depth in the wake of Victor Martinez's thumb injury. Cash has a .541 OPS in 646 major league plate appearances, but any big hits he provides while backing up Jason Varitek would be considered a bonus for the Sox.
In nine pro seasons, Sanchez has amassed just 31 major league plate appearances, three of which came this year in Boston. The 26-year-old has a .279/.334/.351 career line in 3575 minor league PAs in the Boston, Toronto and Kansas City systems. Sanchez gives Houston a bit of infield depth since he has experience playing shortstop, second base and third base.
Footer tweets that Sanchez will take the place of Yordany Ramirez on the Astros' 40-man roster, as Houston has designated Ramirez for assignment. The 25-year-old outfielder has a career .642 OPS in 2615 minor league plate appearances.
Good move for the Red Sox. Cash knowns many of the pitchers and can catch the knuckleball. Sanchez was never going to be anything but a AAAA depth player for the Sox and they can promote either Navarro or Iglesias to replace him.
My guess is it will be Navarro, since Iglesias is just coming off an injury and they need to showcase Navarro for future trades.
Decent move for the Stros too. No need for Kevin Cash now that top prospect Castro is in the majors, and Humberto Quintero is a better defensive backup than Cash. Adds more shortstop depth, obviously the glaring weakness on this team.
Only thing I’m not sure about is what was wrong with Oswaldo Navarro, and why he couldn’t find regular playing time with Manzella sucking and now injured.
I would think they may want to give Jed Lowrie a go at some point this year if he gets healthy in the minors.
I think that is the type of player they would love to have on the bench, good fielder, could play 2B, SS, 3B, switch hitter.
Meanwhile Wakefield gets another personal catcher in Cash (again).
Yep. Good stuff for Wake.
Ha! Who would have believed it if two years ago someone told you that the Red Sox would be heading into July 2010 with Varitek and Cash as their catchers. Yet, here we are.
Seriously…with the all the injuries, the slow start and “unexpected” offense, I dont know what to expect this year. V-Tek and Cash behind the plate…i guess anything is possible now.
Seriously…with the all the injuries, the slow start and “unexpected” offense, I dont know what to expect this year. V-Tek and Cash behind the plate…i guess anything is possible now.
Scratch that. Varitek’s down with a broken foot. So the Sox top four catchers are now all on the DL.
Which a week or two ago was also true of their top four outfielders. Good stuff.
Predictable, yet solid move for the injury-PLAGUED Red Sox. The fact that Ca$h can catch the knuckleball is worth the price of Sanchez alone and from I what remember..he showed some decent pop from time to time. Put a few over the monster in some clutch situations. Maybe coming back to Boston will get his bat going a bit.
Too bad the Red Sox didn’t give them cash considerations.
:rimshot:
I was actually a little surprised that they gave up someone like Sanchez and not like a low-level A baller or something..
Actually they did pretty much. Sanchez is worth little to nothing, then he is worth more than his DP partner at Pawtucket.. Valezquez, then doubt anyone wants him since he can;t even hit AAA pitching as a AAA lifer…
Actually they did pretty much. Sanchez is worth little to nothing, then he is worth more than his DP partner at Pawtucket.. Valezquez, then doubt anyone wants him since he can;t even hit AAA pitching as a AAA lifer…
At this point he was just a roadblock for Navarro and Iglesias, both at AA and both better shortstops.
I know Navarro and Iglesias are both better SS, and that Sanchez has no future with the big league club…I just figured they might want to hold on to him for the rest of this year for infield depth – even if it’s AAAA depth.
At this point he was just a roadblock for Navarro and Iglesias, both at AA and both better shortstops.
Varitek to DL
too bad this move means DL for tek….god.
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON THIS SEASON
Is it as bad as the Met’s injuries last year ?
That was who I was thinking of with other teams with a ton of injuries.
Is it as bad as the Met’s injuries last year ?
Pedroia, Beckett, Martinez, Buchholz, Ellsbury, Drew, Cameron, Varitek, Hermida
Am I forgetting anyone. This is just obsceeeene.
Lowrie, Dice-K, Delcarmen, Westmoreland, Lowell have had their own injury/health/DL issues this year too.
Just waiting for Youk, Beltre and Lester to go down.
Lowrie was a blessing in disguise.
Lowrie, Dice-K, Delcarmen, Westmoreland, Lowell have had their own injury/health/DL issues this year too.
Just waiting for Youk, Beltre and Lester to go down.
WTF?!?!? This is just getting ABSURD. Beckett, Pedroia, Ellsbury, V-Mart AND Varitek, Hermida, MDC, Lowell, Lowrie, Tazawa, Westmoreland, Dusty Brown, Mark Wagner..not to mention Cameron, Drew, what happened to Buchholz, Dice-K’s several stints, Scutaro’s elbow..jesus did I forget anyone? And were how many games out of 1st again??! This season is either a disaster or a miracle waiting to happen.
Start/keep praying to the big man upstairs and imma say we’re watching a miracle in the making.
Ehh. The Rays are gonna need to really come apart.
Ehh. The Rays are gonna need to really come apart.
Start/keep praying to the big man upstairs and imma say we’re watching a miracle in the making.
Amazing. Two years to DFA Yordany. Just absolutely amazing.
Amazing. Two years to DFA Yordany. Just absolutely amazing.
My question is this, how come Theo didn’t get into the draft for a catcher?
Boston is loaded in the farm system at catching being the main reason. AA on down they are literally jammed up at the position. High A ball they have both Lavarnway and Federowicz having to split time between DH and catcher so they both get AB’s in it’s so bad. AA they have Exposito, who is probably going to get a September call up if not sooner. 2009 12th round pick is splitting time with 2008 9th round pick Christian Vasquez at low A ball greenville. Catcher and SP is actually the deepest of positions right now in the Sox farm system and the trade for cash would probably been never made had not both Dusty brown and mark Wagner both been on the ML DL at Pawtucket, since both are far superior in every way to career ML’er Gustavo Molina.
BTW: The 2008 draft Boston chose 3 catchers in the 1st 10 rounds, Ryan Lavarnway at #6, Tim federowicz at #7 and Christian Vazquez at #9. Lavarnway was the Sox Organizational player of the year in 2009. he is very advanced with the bat.
Mmmmmmm, faaaacts.
Boston is loaded in the farm system at catching being the main reason. AA on down they are literally jammed up at the position. High A ball they have both Lavarnway and Federowicz having to split time between DH and catcher so they both get AB’s in it’s so bad. AA they have Exposito, who is probably going to get a September call up if not sooner. 2009 12th round pick is splitting time with 2008 9th round pick Christian Vasquez at low A ball greenville. Catcher and SP is actually the deepest of positions right now in the Sox farm system and the trade for cash would probably been never made had not both Dusty brown and mark Wagner both been on the ML DL at Pawtucket, since both are far superior in every way to career ML’er Gustavo Molina.
BTW: The 2008 draft Boston chose 3 catchers in the 1st 10 rounds, Ryan Lavarnway at #6, Tim federowicz at #7 and Christian Vazquez at #9. Lavarnway was the Sox Organizational player of the year in 2009. he is very advanced with the bat.
They just signed that Cuban catcher, who is probably better than anyone left when their draft slot came up, and years closer to the majors.
His bat is MLB ready but his glove, game calling and English are not.
Got a good arm, though. How picky can BOS be at this point. =P
Got a good arm, though. How picky can BOS be at this point. =P
His bat is MLB ready but his glove, game calling and English are not.
They just signed that Cuban catcher, who is probably better than anyone left when their draft slot came up, and years closer to the majors.
My question is this, how come Theo didn’t get into the draft for a catcher?
How did Beltre become the only durable guy on the team? Hell he is eve responsible for two guys being on the DL.
Varitek narrowly escaped death-by-Beltre the other night. Only to get the Joe Black treatment while breathing a sigh of relief a night or two later.
How many ribs can one 3B break in a season?
also, do think the fact that he is putting teammates on the DL could hurt his potential contracts next year?
How many ribs can one 3B break in a season?
also, do think the fact that he is putting teammates on the DL could hurt his potential contracts next year?
Varitek narrowly escaped death-by-Beltre the other night. Only to get the Joe Black treatment while breathing a sigh of relief a night or two later.
This is Theo’s fault – he should have predicted over the winter that over 50% of his 25 man roster would go down with multiple-week injuries. I blame this on the Curse of Mike Lowell. 😉
This is Theo’s fault – he should have predicted over the winter that over 50% of his 25 man roster would go down with multiple-week injuries. I blame this on the Curse of Mike Lowell. 😉
Lowell must be the good luck charm. Anyone he could sub for (Youk, Beltre, and Ortiz) has been healthy. And they’re the only starters who have(*). Weird.
* I’m counting Scutaro as hurt, even though he’s playing, because of his elbow.
Actually, the Sox already plan on using Lowrie to play some second base as Pedroia recovers from his fractured foot. It’s been a long time coming for him. He’ should be starting his rehab games VERY SOON!