Next Sox C: great D, cheap, short-term

How does this strike you as a short-term solution for the Red Sox catching position?

• Career CS% 40 percent; lead NL last 2 years with 48% [2012], 45% [2013].
• Career .995 Fld. Avg. and .998 last season.
• Career .265 hitter, .359 OBP, .343 SLG, .703 OPS.
• More Ws than Ks in all 7 years; Career totals 189/159.
• Salary under $3 million per year; Arb Eligible: 2014, Free Agent: 2015 [*],
• Agent is NOT Scott Boras, but Tom O’Connell.
• Hometown hero: Andover HS (Andover, MA).
• Irish.

Recently, Tiger catcher, Brayan Pena, signed with the Reds, who released catcher Corky Miller. But with three catchers on the roster, you have to wonder if the Reds might put Ryan Hanigan on the market. [http://www.gammonsdaily.com/alex-avila-was-baseballs-worst-hitter-against-lefties-in-2013/]

ESPN’s Jim Bowden proposed over on ESPN, that would send Brett Cecil, Ryan Goins, Matt Dean, and Anthony Gose to the Cincinnati Reds for Brandon Phillips and Ryan Hanigan.

While the Red Sox would not be interested in Phillips and his hefty contract, they might be able to obtain Hanigan, who had a terrible 2013 season at the plate [.198] for a pitching or OF prospect, say LHP Brian Johnson [#10], Ryan Kalish or Bryce Brentz [#8].

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hanigry01.shtml#contracts

TAKE AWAY:

• Excellent defense and could split game load with Ross, 100-62.
• Decent batter [.262], who will take the W and not K as much as Salty.
• Thrifty solution for a year or two, buys time to watch Ryan Lavarnway [26], Christian Vazquez [23], Blake Swihart [21].

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HANIGAN AS RED SOX STARTING CATCHER?

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