Sometime in the next couple weeks, the Red Sox expect to trade one of their three catchers – Christian Vazquez, Sandy Leon or Blake Swihart. The light-hitting Vazquez seems to have a strong chance to stick around, though, as manager Alex Cora lavished praise on him Saturday (via Alex Speier of the Boston Globe). Cora acknowledged the Red Sox were frustrated at times with Vazquez in 2018, the first season of a three-year contract extension, but the backstop regained the manager’s confidence during their run to the World Series last fall. “The confidence he gained in October is going to have a huge impact of who he is this year,” Cora told Speier. “You can see it.” And longtime organization members have informed Cora that the 28-year-old Vazquez is now amid “probably his best camp, big leagues or minor leagues. He’s in-tune with everything. He’s engaged in every drill.”
Here’s more from the American League…
- Angels outfield prospect Jo Adell suffered a left hamstring strain and a right ankle sprain on the base paths Saturday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times was among those to report. Adell was on crutches after the game and will undergo an MRI on Sunday, general manager Billy Eppler announced. It’s unclear exactly how much time Adell will miss, but it’s expected he’ll sit out for at least “several weeks,” DiGiovanna writes. Considering Adell’s likely to begin at the Double-A level this year, his status won’t affect the big league club’s season-opening plans. Still, it’s a less-than-ideal development for the Angels and Adell, the crown jewel of their farm system and one of the game’s elite prospects.
- The Indians’ top prospect is also heading to the shelf, as the team announced Saturday that it has shut right-hander Triston McKenzie down indefinitely on account of an upper back strain. As Paul Hoynes of cleveland.com notes, it’s now possible McKenzie will miss the start of the minor league season for the second straight campaign, having sat out until June 7 of last year after suffering a strained forearm in spring training. McKenzie, 21, thrived upon his return, though, with 90 2/3 innings of 2.68 ERA/3.62 FIP ball and 8.64 K/9 against 2.78 BB/9 in his first taste of Double-A action.
- The Orioles, at the expense of international bonus pool space, have added outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. and right-handers Xavier Moore and David Lebron in three separate trades since Feb. 24. It’s a smart approach to improve organizational depth, observes MLB.com’s Joe Trezza, who points out the Orioles weren’t going to spend the money they gave up in those deals. With that in mind, rookie general manager Mike Elias essentially acquired Smith, Moore and Lebron for nothing, Trezza points out. Plus, even after making those trades, Baltimore still easily leads the majors in international cash – which should continue to give the franchise a clear advantage in the chase for Cuban shortstop Yolbert Sanchez.
Another Angels’ injury? What’s new? Lol
LOL = Losers Only Laugh at injuries.
Get well soon Jo
A good sports fan would want ALL teams to be healthy to make it a fair and competent season.
Angels got the worst luck.
Lol his name is David Lebron.
lol a quality comment
a quality poster lol
Lol it’s more of a quality obsession with me.
If Lebron can make the club, they’d sell a lot of jerseys!
My local minor league team is having a LeBron themed jersey/shirt giveaway this coming season. I’ll be skipping that game.
lebron’s no mj
It’s a Christmas Miracle and Oriole Magic, the O’s acquired 3 players for nothing
Woo Hoo!
And they still have a chance to acquire Yolbert Sanchez, however from what I hear (the word on the street) the O’s have no interest in signing him
Well Elias did. We can blame Angelos and co. for the situation he was left with. Best thing Elias could’ve done though.
if they trade away all that cash they probably will get a few better players. Sanchez can’t hit in the Serie, and you could get good defensive guy (ie Iggy) on a minors deal if you want D.
I don’t disagree with that. A Glove first SS who can’t hit at age 21 isn’t all that exciting. The value of this IFA cash decreases every single day but I’m really indifferent between signing him or exploring what other prospects we can receive for the cash.
I can’t believe anyone would have a problem with the O’s trading the cash. What the hell can you do with 6MM at this point? Nothing at all. We still have plenty to sign Sanchez if we wish and the 3 guys we got are all lottery tickets but we certainly weren’t going to find anything more spending 6MM scouring through the remains of the IFA pool.
i agree entirely. as much as i would, if i was an orioles fan, liked to have gotten better players then Lebron and Moore for the cash, they were essentially free pickups. Smith, on the other hand, was a wonderful get.
I agree… there’s really nothing the O’s can do with that giant chunk of international $ now so acquiring players in return is a great way to do wiggle at least a little bit of value out of it. The two P they got are long shot, young prospects but so are most international signees anyway so solid enough pick ups there. And as for Smith – he seems like a guy who if given the chance to live up to his potential could actually amount to a decent OF — I think all three (and any additional similar moves in the coming weeks) are all good for the organization no matter how you look at it. Would it have been better so spend some of the international money months ago when top prospects were available? Yeah probably but that times passed now so why not take advantage of the stash of $ and get whatever you can for it. I don’t see any downside to this approach!
Exactly, Jeff. Elias didn’t trade for the money nor did he have the money at an opportune time. He can only do what he can he do with a limited international scouting team and bottom of the barrel player pool. He’s doing the best he can with the cards he has. Only complaint I have about the offseason is that we haven’t added more quantity of bounceback candidates. Guys like Josh Harrison, Drew Pomeranz, Boxberger etc etc. I understand Camden yards is a tough sell for rebound candidate pitchers so I can see why that market may have been tough.
Jo Adell is a beast
Jo Adell has a huge ceiling. I wish him a speedy recovery. Go Halos.
He sure is. I got to catch him during his short stint in San Bernardino last season. Head and shoulders above everyone else. But I’m also hoping to see Rengifo and Walsh with the Angels soon.
I was down in Arizona this past weekend. I saw the Angels play the Reds and Athletics. It was great to see all the young talent the Angels actually have. They’re all doing well this Spring Training. I’m excited for the future.
Indians smart to take it slow with Triston McKenzie. Those back strains can haunt for a while.
Vazquez is 3-for-22 in spring. Why would it be such a crime to carry three catchers when one (Swihart) can play other positions? Catchers get injured rather frequently and I doubt the Sox have much in their farm system to fill in.
You certainly have a point. It’s what they did last year with an admirable result. I’m sure the argument goes that they need the 25-man flexibility that would be provided by dumping one of them. Deciding which one seems to be part of the problem. It almost doesn’t matter–the notion that this team is trying to repeat is just window dressing of the mind. The retooling of this club after the 2019 season is going to be wild, woolly, and wonderful. It really doesn’t matter how they get there.
I’d bet the theory behind those announcements was twofold:
One, try to drum up interest and some bidding from other clubs to clear the logjam, and
Two, the bullpen reclamation projects are such they aren’t sure there is a way to know what they have to work with – they probably forsee wanting the ability to carry an extra arm and cycle through calling up/sending down a 25th man as a way to draw from whatever they stash in the minors
The crime is a much shorter and less flexible bench and even so that would hurt their flexibility with their already very average bullpen.
Carrying 3 catchers, with Vaz and Leon barely able to hit their weight sorely affects offensive and field defensive options for Cora.
Vasquez is overrated defensively, he’s got horrible hands, can’t frame, and can’t call a game. There is a reason the Sox stuck with Leon even though he was a guaranteed out, because pitchers liked throwing to him and he is always in the game mentally. If the Sox keep Vasquez it’s a big mistake. Sell while they can get something for him. Otherwise he’ll end up being just like Swihart in a year, a worthless use of a roster space.
In the last two years, Vasquez finishes as a top 5 framer according to Fangraph. Late last season, Vasquez was clearly better than Leon, who goes into long slumps. That is why Vasquez was almost exclusively the playoff catcher.
Either you are smarter than Fangraph and the Cora or just another troll. How many rings do you have?
What would Rockies have to throw in to get a Brendan Rodgers for Jo Adell trade?
So I’m wondering… how does a player suffer a LEFT hamstring strain and a RIGHT ankle sprain on the bases, presumably at the same time? Not at all trolling. Strained the hammy, then turned the ankle putting too much weight on it trying to overcompensate? I’m no athlete, and I’ve never heard of injuries to opposite legs at the same time.
Could this be PR on Vasquez so it will lift his trade value?
Vasquez sucks. Arrogant little butterball!! Hope he’s gone
Play SWIHART! Enough already!!!