Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez has made enough progress in his return from Tommy John surgery that he’s comfortable he’ll be ready for Spring Training, he told reporters, including Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald, as the Sox’s Winter Weekend today. Red Sox lefty Brian Johnson also sounds convinced that Vazquez is back to normal — Johnson, who can reach the low 90s, saw Vazquez throw from 150 feet last week and says he thinks Vazquez was throwing harder than he himself could. Mastrodonato suggests it’s likely the Red Sox will have Vazquez start the season in the minors (which isn’t surprising, since Vazquez is optionable and didn’t play at all last year), and president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski describes Blake Swihart as the team’s No. 1 catcher. Mastrodonato notes, though, that Swihart could eventually move to another position, with Vazquez, the better defender, ultimately taking over behind the plate. Here’s more from the East divisions.
- The Orioles have more on their to-do list even after re-signing Chris Davis, Rich Dubroff of CSNmidatlantic.com writes. They can still use an outfielder and starting pitcher (maybe Yovani Gallardo, although top Orioles exec Dan Duquette has said he doesn’t want to part with the No. 14 overall pick by signing a free agent who rejected a qualifying offer). Dubroff also notes (perhaps somewhat speculatively) that they could also pursue a Manny Machado extension. An extension for Machado would surely be hugely expensive, since he’ll already be making $5MM this season in his first year of arbitration eligibility and already has one elite season under his belt, which he posted at the tender age of 22. Machado is currently scheduled to hit free agency following the 2018 season, by which point he’ll only be 26; if he can continue at anything resembling his current pace, his mid- to late-20s seasons will be incredibly valuable on the open market.
- The Marlins were interested in Fernando Rodney before Rodney’s signing with the Padres, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes (scroll down). With Rodney off the board, Marlins executive Michael Hill says the team will have an open competition for the closer’s job, with Carter Capps (he of the ridiculous 98-MPH fastball and 16.8 K/9 in 2015) facing off against A.J. Ramos (who himself had a strong season while recording 32 saves in 2015).
Carter Capps for closer, man is a freak and can screwup batters, it’s better using him in a closer role than a set up, have Ramos go to set up, with Capps as the closer and have Dunn move to full pen
Totally agree. Was reading on perceived velocity of Capps, and he ranked higher than Chapman with that funky delivery.
C-Vaz was on the All day long Red Sox Winter fest still going on NESN if anyone caught him earlier today. He’s throwing 100% already said during his interview and chomping at the bit for ST. Sees no effects from TJ so far with his recovery.
NESN will be broadcast the Sox Winterland day 2 tomorrow if anyone, Sox fans that is.. Missed today’s show. All day long at some hotel & Casino in MASS. Players and coaches all day today in live interviews. Great for fans starved for baseball info on the Sox.
If only I had NESN.
Well, if the Orioles sign Jeff Francoeur and let him and Alvarez share RF
Let Kim and Reimold share LF.
If the Orioles sign Latos or Fister, I think that will be okay and at least good enough to compete in the AL East.
It was not what I had in mind because I think I would have signed Upton or tried to and then I would have signed Gallardo, but that would have been expensive and the O’s would have lost draft choices.
Capps has a great arm and his stuff is nasty
I like Vazquez a lot. His defense is spectacular. That said moving Swihart off the catching position would be a foolish move. Having an above average bat for a catcher, doesn’t really translate well to much more than a below average bat at most other positions. Its’ the best way to devalue the player. One of them most likely either needs to take the backup role or be traded. But putting a guy who had a 90 OPS+ last season at first base seems like a rather large mistake. Not to say he couldn’t get better but right now he looks offensively like about the 5th best option at first of everyone on the 25 man roster.
While I’m against the idea of moving Swihart off of catcher, there is some merit to the idea. Firstly, the fact that he had a 90 OPS+ in his rookie season, after being rushed to the majors due to injury, is pretty impressive, and he’ll end up a much better hitter in time. And secondly, he was mainly a SS before turning pro, and remains athletic enough to play a more difficult position than 1B (2B, 3B, and either outfield corner would all be real possibilities).
Don’t worry, the bringer of rain Joey bats and EE will crush the Orioles with or without Chris Davis with or without yovanni gallardo even though he killed them last year. Baltimore had a window the window is now gone, theu don’t have the pitching to support the team like 2 three years ago
Good luck with that. I will take the Os pitching (overall includes bullpen), defense, and offense over the Blow Jays any day. Enjoy fighting with TB for last cause the Os are competing with the Yankees and Red Sox for first.
O’s will be last place for sure! Davis will have 200 strikeouts again. They have zero starting pitching, 71 wins tops. Deal with it.
Obviously u have no idea what your talking about. What team has the most combined wins in the American League in the last four years? The Orioles. Enjoy last place. Deal with it!
Thanks for such a knowledgeable prediction. What a dufus you are. Only one team in the league has any starting pitching. Toronto lost their best two pitchers and is left with a knuckleball pitcher and a guy that went 4-0. Encarnacion, Bautista and Tulowitski are hurt every other year if not more. Yankees well Sabathia is coming back for his 25M and if he does not break his arm gets another year at $25m.
Finally some sense on these boards!
So Kevin Gausman doesn’t have what it takes already? And there’s no way Miguel Gonzalez will adjust to the league after being injured last season? Tough crowd.
Youre delusional if you think the blue jays are a last place team. Theyre miles better than any team in the division.
Every team in our division has serious question marks. The only team that doesn’t have a chance to win the division right now is the Orioles
Don’t think the Rays really have a shot either…..
The only team that doesn’t have a chance? Lol. The Yankees have 2 well established starters and a sick back end of the bullpen. The Rays only have their talented rotation to rely on. The Red Sox have David Price and a decent offense. The Blue Jays have a power house injury plagued lineup and Stronan. The Orioles have a powerhouse lineup, top 5 defense and a sick bullpen with starters that have had success. Yeah I like the Orioles chances of competing. All in all that division is up for grabs
You are just being a goofy troll. The Orioles have won more games combined than any other AL team over the last four years yet you are pegging them for last place. You are a delusional blow jays fan. Enjoy last year cause it was a fluke. They may have had a shot this season but they got rid of their best chance in AA and brought in Shapiro who will bring you guys back to the bottom where u belong in no time. Good luck counting on a 40 year old to lead the rotation and a shortstop that hasn’t done ish outside of Coors. Maybe had you been successful in stealing Duquette away but no. TB pitching is too good to finish last so it’s the Blow Jays who will own that spot.
And the Boo Jays pitching has what it takes?????
Your living in a glass house and I wouldn’t make those kinds of boastful comments with your pitching staff.
And they Jay’s will massacre the Red Sox and there possible first basemen Hanley Ramirez and the panda who only comes out of hibernation for baseball season and then goes and puts on 40 pounds in the offseason.
i’m one of the biggest rodney fans out there, probably, but the idea of the marlins signing him to close over both ramos and capps is… baffling