Hot spring by Blake Swihart ramps up trade interest from other clubs

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Blake Swihart is tearing up the Grapefruit League at the plate and his spring is not going unnoticed.

Swihart leads the Red Sox in a host of offensive categories including hits (10), RBI (eight), and total bases (19) and with Tuesday’s second-inning double in the Red Sox’ 9-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays, his six doubles not only lead his team, but everyone else in Florida, too.

That has grabbed the attention of other teams. A major league source indicated Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is being flooded with calls from fellow executives, asking if Swihart is available in a trade.

The fact that Swihart is out of options this spring only heightens the interest in him across the game, since, if the Sox can’t find a roster spot for him, they’ll likely have to trade him elsewhere. If Swihart were to be placed on waivers to outright him to Pawtucket, he would certainly be claimed, with the Sox getting nothing in return.

The Sox, however, are not interested in trading Swihart - with one possible exception. A source indicated the Sox would be tempted with an offer that included an elite prospect to help restock their inventory of minor league talent.

In obtaining pitchers Chris Sale, Craig Kimbrel, Drew Pomeranz and Tyler Thornburg, the Sox have dealt away a half-dozen or so of their better prospects in the last two and a half seasons, and the Sox are ever-mindful of the need to balance the challenge of competing for a championship now, while also preparing for the future.

The Sox’ window begins to close somewhat after this spring, with Kimbrel and Pomeranz eligible for free agency. After the 2019 season, Sale, Rick Porcello and Xander Bogaerts will be free agents. Even for a big-market team like the Red Sox, it’s hard to imagine the Sox being able to retain every one of those potential free agents.

It’s no surprise Swihart is in such demand. Beyond his value as a catcher, Swihart can play first, third and left field. He’s athletic, runs well, and switch-hits.

On Tuesday, he saw his first bit of playing time in the outfield, starting in left. Manager Alex Cora said he plans to give Swihart a start at third base in the coming days.

Tuesday, in fact, marked his first appearance in the outfield since the fateful day in 2016 when he suffered his ankle injury. The ball wasted no time in finding him, as leadoff hitter Kevin Kiermaier hit a line drive that Swihart, battling both the sun and wind, snared.

“Just like old times,’’ joked Swihart.

The more versatile Swihart shows himself to be, the more valuable he is for the Sox. They plan to have Christian Vazquez as the starter behind the plate, with Sandy Leon as the primary backup. For now, there’s little chance Swihart, even with his strong spring, can supplant Leon as Vazquez’s backup since Leon is considered the superior catch-and-throw guy and has earned the confidence of the Red Sox pitching staff.

But Swihart can still be an asset as a third catcher who can hit and be used all over the field.

Since injuring his ankle, Swihart had slipped down the organization’s depth chart. But he regained his health late last season and further impressed with his play in winter ball.

With the ability to play both the infield and outfield – to say nothing of his ability as his natural position of catcher – Swihart could be in direct competition with utility man Brock Holt for a roster spot. Holt can play seven different positions, but his poor offensive showing last season has some wondering about his future, especially in light of several concussions over the last three seasons.

Holt also carries a sizeable salary ($2.225 million), and if the Sox can be satisfied that either Tzu-Wei Lin or Deven Marrero can handle second and shortstop, Holt could be especially vulnerable. His salary is even more problematic when you consider how close the Red Sox are to the $237 million luxury tax threshold, which would trigger a higher rate and the loss of ten spots in the 2019 draft.

The Sox would be willing to go over that figure in July with a rental or late-season addition, but would prefer giving themselves some financial breathing room at the start of the season.

 

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