The Red Sox have placed catcher Sandy Leon on waivers, as per WEEI.com’s Evan Drellich (Twitter link).
The move comes after months of trade rumors surrounding Boston’s catching situation, as the team didn’t plan on keeping all three of Leon, Christian Vazquez, and Blake Swihart on its Opening Day roster. No deals materialized, however, as Boston’s attempts were undoubtedly complicated both by a busiest-than-expected catching market this winter, as well as the simple fact that none of the trio played well in 2018. (Plus, all three were out of minor league options.)
As of last spring, the Red Sox were known to be putting a rather large asking price on Swihart befitting his former top-prospect status, and it isn’t known if that price dropped in the wake of Swihart’s lackluster performance last season. Vazquez came with a notable financial cost (owed $13.55MM through 2021), while even Leon’s modest $2.475MM salary for 2019 could be seen as an overpay for a defense-only catcher, given what players with similar skillsets have landed this winter.
That said, it seems likely that several teams will check in on Leon now that they’ll just have to pay his salary (rather than give something up to the Sox in a trade). Leon is ranked by both Baseball Prospectus and StatCorner as a top-tier pitch-framer, and has also received above-average marks for his blocking and throwing arm. More anecdotally, teammates and coaches have raved about Leon’s ability to call a game and manage pitchers. At the plate, Leon has a surprisingly strong 2016, but has since batted only .201/.262/.317 over 589 plate appearances.
If Leon isn’t claimed, he will be removed from Boston’s 40-man roster and then have the choice to either become a free agent or remain with the Red Sox as Triple-A depth. Assuming he leaves, Boston would then have just Vazquez and Swihart behind the plate, and Juan Centeno as their top minor league depth candidate.
Vazquez is himself a strong defender, and obviously the Sox aren’t ready to give up on a player they only recently extended. Swihart is still a question mark defensively (both at catcher and elsewhere around the diamond), though the Red Sox also still think enough of his potential that they’re willing to take the defensive dropoff as Swihart continues to develop. With all this uncertainty, Boston could possibly be a midseason candidate to acquire a catcher at the deadline, though it’s worth noting that the club was content to use a defense-first approach to the catcher position last season and it still led to a championship.
WOW!
Sad to see that news.
The writing was on the wall for some time now. Oh well, one of the best cherington pick ups in terms of cost/on field value
What is not being said but I believe is the real issue is they don’t want to admit the extending of Vazquez was a mistake. My guess is they announced looking to trade Leon but we’re hoping to find a taker for Vazquez. When it didn’t happen, Leon was the only choice financially if they weren’t keeping all three (which was my choice at least until Pedroia was activated). Good luck Sandy. You’ll be picked up in a snap.
Lets Compare:
Vazquez:
1) Vazquez is younger
2) Vazquez is a better hitter
3) He missed 2 months due to injury last year, skewering his stats, making him look worse
4) He’s a homegrown talent
5) The coach chose to play him most of the time in playoffs
6) His contract was signed before last season, and before the Great Baseball Salary Crash 0f ’19
Leon:
1) Handles pitchers slightly better
2) Had three hits from August 16 on last season. THREE HITS!
DennyD: Vazquez is a marginally better hitter but neither puts death in a pitcher’s eyes. Vazquez turns 29bin August and considering neither has caught significantly, the age is a wash. Being homegrown. vs. being a minor league pick up from a prior management team means nothing. Also when the contract was signed is irrelevant. I was for the contract when it was inked but today it still feels like a mistake. I do agree Leon’s bat was basically useless at the end of the year but so were the other catchers. My argument is that the entire staff preferred Leon and that should count for something. Vazquez can be very good behind the dish but is nowhere near as good as Leon in blocking pitches. Let’s see how many passed balls and wild pitches the staffvhasbin 2019.
DennyD: Vazquez is a marginally better hitter but neither puts death in a pitcher’s eyes. Vazquez turns 29bin August and considering neither has caught significantly, the age is a wash. Being homegrown. vs. being a minor league pick up from a prior management team means nothing. Also when the contract was signed is irrelevant. I was for the contract when it was inked but today it still feels like a mistake. I do agree Leon’s bat was basically useless at the end of the year but so were the other catchers. My argument is that the entire staff preferred Leon and that should count for something. Vazquez can be very good behind the dish but is nowhere near as good as Leon in blocking pitches. Let’s see how many passed balls and wild pitches the staff has in 2019.
haha i probably agree with you dennyD but way to spin those stats to make his 2 month injury into a positive. you should consider being a publicist as a 2nd job.
most people would say he is injury prone after missing 2 months, you turn it around and just say it skewed his stats a little bit
Arguing vazquez vs Leon is like arguing measles vs smallpox. Nobody wants to say they’ve got either one.
Hehehe
Some winning teams would be very happy with a defense first, little hit catcher. 2013 Red Sox, 2015 Cubs, 2018 Red Sox for example. Even the 2017 Astros won without a stud catcher. Take out one team, the Giants and Posey
Some winning teams would be very happy with a defense first, little hit catcher. 2013 Red Sox, 2015 Cubs, 2018 Red Sox for example. Even the 2017 Astros won without a stud catcher. Take out one team, the Giants and Posey and you really only have the Totals as a recent winner with a bat behind the plate and Perez does both equally well.
Denny pretty much gave the reasons why in a nutshell
He won’t be out of work long. Decent backup at a premium position.
I can picture Jacob Stallings next to be placed on waivers. Too many of these types of players available to make a decent trade.
Won’t Stallings make the team?
Initially since Diaz needs a week or two since he missed spring training d/t an illness. Stalliings should hit waivers early April.
Stallings has to make the team, Diaz needs time to get in game shape, how don’t you know this.
What 13rwils said. When Diaz comes back, do you think they will have 3 catchers on the team?
Hes a switch hitting catcher, watch the Astros pick him up Maybe.
Indians also could.
You mean a switch missing catcher.
It’s pretty irrelevant what side of the plate you hit from when you post a 37 OPS+. He hits like a pitcher.
GET IT DONE BILLY BEANE
Good framer and a leader, that’s a no doubter beane
Would let him clear waivers though to sign him at the minimum.
I doubt he clears waivers.
He’s not going to be available for the league minimum. Even if nobody claims him off waivers, he would forfeit almost $2 million of his $2.5 million salary by choosing to be a free agent. He likes the Red Sox organization and has been comfortable going to the minors with them before, sacrificing major league opportunity for a bigger paycheck and a chance to stay in the only organization that’s given him a chance to be a regular player.
I’m not convinced this is the last the Red Sox have seen of Sandy Leon, but if it is I’m sure it will be because somebody picks up his full salary
I hope you’re right.
I would love to see Sandy stay with the Red Sox organization.
But if he goes to the minors how does that save salary or free up payroll?
They would still have to pay him his $2.5M?
He’d be like Rusnay Castillo but for less money.
You just answered your own question. Castillo hasn’t been called up because his contract doesn’t count against the luxury tax payroll as long as he stays in the minors. But as for Leon, because he was signed to an arbitration contract, it wasn’t guaranteed unless he remained on the ML roster for Opening Day. Because he was placed on waivers before Opening Day, the Sox would owe him only 45 days of termination pay which would equal approx $600K. Therefore they’d be saving approx $1.9M against the luxury tax payroll.
Right and I think the Red Sox would agree to pay $2 million to keep him in the organization in AAA. Swihart and Vazquez have both missed almost 2 of the last 4 seasons with injuries with various maladies and surgeries, do we really want Juan Sentenio getting significant playing time if Vazquez gets hurt or Swihart flops to save less than $1 million (Sandy’s $1.9 million less whatever sentenio would earn)? Hell no!
Keep your depth, Sandy stay where you are loved even if you don’t get a hit all season
Trade one of the useless prospects
Not much down on the farm to speak of
And the dominos start to fall…..
If the A’s don’t get him, their offseason goes from a D grade to a C. Add Keuchel and Kimbrel and it’s an A for the A’s.
lol this is the A’s we’re talking about here. oh
It’s nothing short of hubris to think they were going to actually receive something of value for him in trade. I’ve been a Red Sox my entire life, but just because a guy puts on a jersey that says Red Sox on the front, that doesn’t mean the guy doesn’t suck.
Only people who said Red Sox would get anything back, were haters creating a false narrative. People who exaggerated claims that Red Sox fans would say ‘Sox would get a lot back for him’. You know, like you’re doing right now.
Sorry but a catcher who the entire staff of the WS winner prefers to pitch to, does not suck.
Really, really bad comment. Sandy didn’t suck at all. He got worn down last year because of Vasquez’s injury, but he is superb catcher, and saved several runs during the play-offs and Series with his pitch-blocking skills. Without that strange 2016 season though, he;s a lifetime sub-.200 hitter. Can’t have that.
You basically just said he sucked in that last sentence. You have to be some kind of offensive threat to be a starting catcher. The bar is low but sandy is well under that. He got cut for a reason. He can play defense but you can’t hit like that. Rene Rivera has the same skill set and got himself cut today as well. If they didn’t owe Vazquez all that money it could’ve been different. But they have more committed to him.
Rene Rivera is good defensively but not nearly of Leon’s stature. Sox staff in the playoffs was superb last year but in key situations, Leon behind the plate was as valuable as any bat.
That’s a really ridiculous comment to make, as catcher is the most important defensive position in the game. A catcher who can hit is a luxury, not a necessity. I could mention a ton of great catchers from the past who couldn’t hit their way out of a paper bag. But as everyone knows, all I have to do is mention one player: Jeff Mathis, a career .198 BA and .564 OPS who also happened to be one of the most sought-after free agents this winter. Despite his .544 OPS last season, he signed a 2-year $6.25M contract. . So NO, catchers don’t need to be good hitters.
Why is Boston releasing Leon? Mathis is a backup catcher for one thing. Also very likely an overpaid one. I said to be a starting catcher in this league you need to possess some offensive skill set. Leon just posted a 37 OPS+ that’s comically bad. You cannot be a complete zero with the bat. That’s a complete zero.
Martin Maldonado just settled for 2.5 MM on a one year deal and it took an injury for him to find that job. He posted a 73 OPS+ which is almost twice as good as what Leon just slashed. He’s regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in the game. there’s a reason you just released this guy. You can’t hit like that and expect to stick around.
Use your eyes. Leon clearly out performed Maldonado in the ALCS behind the plate. Small sample size of course but I keep going back to what the staff said about Leon. With Vazquez on the roster, someone should have chosen him.
I’m not even sure where this argument went. Leon is good enough to be someone’s backup catcher. He knows how to handle a pitching staff but he’s clearly not a starting catcher. You cannot hit like a reliever coming out of the bullpen and expect to be a starting catcher. There’s a reason Boston just waved goodbye to Leon.
I’ll miss you Sandy, you handled the pitchers well!!!
Sandy is being over rated by some of the commenters here. He can’t hit even for a backup catcher. Other than his 2016 season, his bat has been made of lead. A backup catcher be able to hit .220/..290/.375.. Not .174/.232/.279 -..4 WAR OUCH! Swihart deserves the opportunity far more. He may flop, but his upside is huge.
QBK: Baseball is a team sport and defense behind the plate is more important than another thirty points on the batting average. Leon was also the team’s best bunter. He was exactly what the team needed from their starting catcher in 2018.
Sounds like excuses to me….at some point you have to have some offensive capabilities and not be an automatic out….which apparently he was……and his defense, while many of the Red Sox pitchers might have liked his play behind the plate as a veteran,.. is not the top of the league….just top of the Red Sox.
Didn’t we hear the same about Varitec when he retired…h.ow he was the greatest?
Who in the AL was better Rock? Please don’t say Maldonado. Why bring up Varitek? His overall importance was recognized when he was made team captain (the first I believe in years).
Dewey…I just believe that sometimes teams become fascinated with players and convince themselves that they are league best…..not saying that either Leon or Varitek are not or were good solid players but when you go outside the team and consider their status against the entire league, you get a clearer picture as to their overall league value.
I only brought up Varitek because he probably was the last Sox catcher that was held in the esteem that their current crew does.
I like how your memory only covers what he did last year at the plate.
A run saved is a run that doesnt have to be earned.
I like swihart. I also liked leon.
I’m sure Sandy saved the pitching staff at least 5-10 runs over the course of the year. If you converted those to home runs I’m sure some narratives on him would change.
It’s unfortunate but the guy just can’t hit. I think there is a chance he makes it through waivers he does have a 2.475 million salary. If he makes it through waivers wonder if he will go to the minors knowing that the Red Sox catchers have had injury issues and strong possibility he would get playing time. I like the guy but man he can’t hit even a little he was nearly an automatic out last year at the end of the year.
No. The Sox released him before The season started and if unclaimed, they are only responsible for a %, I think 1/5th or 1/6th.
I don’t believe they are responsible for any of his salary which is why he might go unclaimed 2.475 million is a lot to pay for guy who can’t hit and I mean can’t hit.
Another article says the team irresponsible for less than $600k but with tax implications, it would have been about $3.5m.
Honestly Dewey I’m not totally sure about the financial ramifications I’m just thinking very little if any if someone claims him.
If he gets claimed, the Sox owe zilch. Otherwise their obligation on releasing him is as I mentioned.
I also don’t think the Red Sox care if doesn’t get claimed I’m guessing he will stay with the Red Sox then and wait for his chance again.
There’s no denying the fact that his offensive numbers are pretty bad, but for a guy who was claimed off waivers, I think it’s safe to say he became more valuable than anyone would have expected. Hopefully he can find the stroke he had in 2016 once again. Best of luck to him.
White Sox could use a catcher who’s good at framing pitches; make him the caddy for Giolito and see if his walks come down
Wonder if they royals would claim him and have him as a back up after they lost salvy
The O’s should claim him. Good to work with their young pitchers and if he hits at all they can trade him to a contender for something as the catchers go on the DL.
Been saying the same thing over on the MASN blog. Most agree, Leon should be claimed by the Orioles. Don’t care if he can’t hit.
When a team is as loaded on offense as the BoSox… you keep the weak hitting but awesome with the pitchers, catcher.
Agreed under normal situations. With so many pitchers in today’s game and Pedroia not being everyday ready, the team felt it couldn’t keep three. Swihart is controllable and the team still believes in his bat. Combine that with Vazquez’s guaranteed contract and Leon was the odd one out.
Giants GM is kicking himself… “I traded a mid level prospect for a 38 year old bench catcher when I could have had a much better player for free. DOH!!!
He won’t make it to Giants in waiver wire. Someone in AL will take him.
Mike Scioscia would’ve loved an all glove no bat catcher to replace his long lost Mathis.
Sandy Leon would be a good defensive mentor to bat-first Seattle catcher Omar Narvaez, a fellow squat Venezuelan who is only 27 years old..
In other news at least they let the ink dry on Sale’s extension and for him to do his media conference BEFORE pissing him off
Question to Red Sox fans….what’s the fascination with Swihart? I can understand why they would keep a younger, cheaper player than Leon, but I don’t quite see the high value ascribed to him. My guys have Greg Bird, so I realize there’s always someone on the roster, but what does Swihart really add? Are they thinking a BJ Surhoff type?
Depending who you ask, you get different answers.
To ME:
He was a highly regarded, but mishandled, prospect. He had an advanced bat, but a long way to go on defense. The sox called him up knowing they had a strong arm with a weaker bat developing on his heels (vaz).
Basically then you had the last 3 or so campaigns after that – injury, attempts to put his bat somewhere leading to playing out of position and more injury. The whole while, the ABs he DID get were either off the bench, or highly sporadic at best.
Some of us are interested in what regular, CONSISTENT playing time would do for him. Honestly however, as much as I like him as a player I’m not sure he can get that in Boston .
The fascination with Swihart is they believe, and so do I, his bat plays as a catcher in the bigs. His defense was never as bad as some thought it was just wasn’t as good as either Vasquez or Leon. His biggest issue is game calling and from what they have been saying he has improved greatly on that capacity. I also think the Red Sox brass just don’t want to see him excel in another organization until he is a free agent.
What does Swihart add? That’s a very easy question to answer in one word: Versatility. They are thinking he’s a Brock Holt type, can play nearly every position. And he has already played every position at the ML level except SS, CF and pitcher. I think all the moving around has hurt his hitting though, and his poor defense has hurt other players. For example ERod had the major ankle injury because of Swihart. I think if he settles into one defensive position, he’ll be a better hitter and defender. But for now, he’s a jack of all trades and master of none.
As a Sox fan, the real mistake is the Vazquez contract. Should have never gave him that deal. If you told me, all things being equal (ie. money), that I could only pick two of the three catchers, I’d pick Leon/Swihart. Leon was great at handling the pitching staff. Swihart, potentially, has some upside still left in him, despite being mismanaged from the jump. Vazquez is solid defensively too, but Leon is better. And I don’t mind Vazquez being on the team, but the deal he got was stupid.
How long do the Orioles, as the first team up, have to make a decision on a waiver claim?
Leon is great but his hitting collapse puts the Red Sox in a tough spot. Vazquez is so similar anyway, it’s a tossup. Swihart is a mystery.
He will itch on somewhere. He could greatly help a young pitching staff, might be a good fit in Miami. Since they lost realmuto dince he got expensive they could use him. I remember Alex Cobb had his best season with the Rays back when they had Jose Molina and Cobb had an uptick in strikeouts, never been that way since he moved on albeit Cobb also got injured. But helped nevertheless.
Thank you, Sandy Leon for all you contributed to the Red Sox and for being an exemplary member of one of the greatest teams of all time. I wish you well and much success for the future – just don’t catch any no-hitters against the Sox!
Time to make the Catching position a DH position as well as the Pitcher.
Let’s also let a tie game after 9 innings end in a tie and each team gets a 1/2 game and have a home run derby to get the extra 1/2 game.
Just like the shoot out in hockey.
The fans would love it and it would save pitching arms.
The shootout is THE dumbest idea in hockey history. It is a team sport, to be won or lost by a team not by a few 1 on 1 plays. How can a game be won by a goal that doesn’t count on the stat sheet. It should be 10 minutes of 4 on 4, then 10 minutes of 3 on 3 and end with a tie if nobody scores. Baseball should be left alone from these snowflake rules.
A Home Run Derby is FAR more popular than fans having to endure 18 innings of outfielders coming in to pitch. If you’re such a dam purist then let the game end after 9 innings as a tie. Extra innings are a joke. It’s a dinosaur like fighting a boxing match until the other fighter is knocked out no matter how many rounds.
I’ll bet if you took a poll and asked fans if they perfer to see a Home Run Derby after 9 inning or see outfielders pitch they’d take the HR Derby by a long shot.
The HR Derby is one of the most popular things at the All Star Game.
Doesn’t the winner get $1M for winning it this year?
Yes it is popular. But, players get injured in HR Derbies. The multiple massive swings cause lots of problems especially to the back. Thats why so many big names forego the Derby, and why they had to offer a Million to get bigger names.
Also, HR Derbies are performed by the best HR hitters in the league. You want the best from each team compete? Light hitting would be sending up some sad players. Cant wait to see Miami sending up Justin Bour, Derek Dietrich and Starlin Castro vs. Yankees Judge, Stanton and Hicks for their side. (Yes that’s Miami’s 3 highest homer hitters, since Realmuto left.)
You must be living underneath a rock this offseason because Bour and Dietrich are gone.
dennyd So what are you saying?
We should eliminate batting practice for fear of a “massive swing injury”?
And I don’t understand why Judge or Stanton coming up in a HR Derby would be any more uneven then having them actually try to hit home runs in the first 9 innings for the NYY?
Maybe we could create an additional roster spot for a designated HR Derby player, who we don’t care about as much, for fear of a “massive injury” to a Prima Dona or fear it will f-up their swing and they’ll never be able to hit HR’s again?
Wow give me a break. Pretty soon we’ll have to hire people to tie their shoes for fear they bend over and twist their back or fall out of their chair bending over.
Somehow Vazquezs salary of just over $4M a year is inhibiting? Hes a solid defensive catcher and will hit more like 2017 than 2018 this year. Leon was a very good catcher but absolute zero bat. The dropoff to Swihart defensively as he gets to focus on that position exclusively for the first time in a few years is nowhere near as steep as the offensive potential Swihart brings at a lower cost. Good and easy decision.
Leon is going to clear waivers. At that point, he can accept a demotion to Pawtucket or elect free agency. If he elects free agency, the Red Sox could and should give him a minor league deal (no one is giving Sandy an MLB contract) and send him to Pawtucket.
Either way, I don’t expect him to leave the Red Sox…
But why would Sandy sign a minor league contract with the sox instead of keeping his existing arb deal?
If he doesn’t take the optional assignment I’d expect he isn’t coming back at all.
Very sad… Swihart is the one that needs to go, not the best defensive catcher and pitcher handler on the game
He also has the most upside and is the youngest so why should he go? Leon is nothing more than a backup with almost zero offensive upside…
What is the waiver wire order? I doubt Sandy Leon gets past the 3rd team on the chart.
Orioles could sure use a C. But will they pay the money?
So let me get this straight. Boston has three catchers and they’re going to be shopping for a catcher at the deadline. LOL