Sunday, June 28, 2015
Hanigan's Return May Force Trade
Ryan Hanigan was suppose to be the back-up catcher to Cristian Vazquez. Vazquez ends up having season-ending Tommy John surgery, so Hanigan became the #1 & Sandy Leon became the back-up. Hanigan broke a bone in his hand in May, so the Sox call-up rookie Blake Swihart who has become the everyday catcher for the past 6 weeks. Let's review. Vazquez-Hanigan went to Hanigan-Leon which then went to Swihart-Leon. Ryan Hanigan is close to coming back to the big club. Vazquez will be ready to go in spring training next year. 4 catchers for 2 spots means that it's very possible that someone will be traded. It could be Swihart, a kid with lots of potential, if the Sox commit to Vazquez as their everyday catcher next year. Hanigan is signed for another year & he has shown that he is a good veteran presence behind the plate with a good blue-collar work ethic. Leon is the personal catcher for Buchholz, a guy who is pitching better of late. Swihart would command a sizable return in the trade market, maybe a Cole Hamels. It doesn't seem like Vazquez & Swihart can co-exist. If the Sox want to keep both, perhaps the switch-hitting Swihart can become the everyday 1B next year in place of Mike Napoli. Hanigan's return will prompt some sort of move. Returning Swihart to AAA doesn't seem logical, unless they give him reps at 1B. July will be very interesting.
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