Red Sox: The most crucial positions for the 2017 season
By Jimmy Longo
Catcher
Coming into the 2016 season, the Red Sox sent out Blake Swihart as the Opening Day catcher, starting for the Red Sox while Christian Vazquez recovered from Tommy John surgery.
Ineffective play behind the plate saw Swihart be sent to the minors to be transformed into an outfielder, while the legend of Sandy Leon was born. Vazquez recovered, but spent the majority of the season at AAA, only re-emerging as a September call-up.
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As 2017 looms, the catcher position for the Red Sox is a legitimate question mark. Leon will get every chance to show that he can be an everyday catcher after spending time at Pawtucket and playing in 78 games in the majors last year.
Because of Vazquez’ advantage to throw out runners and Swihart’s remaining options, Swihart appears to be the odd man out as the Red Sox are highly unlikely to carry three catchers to begin the season. This is obviously not to say that should another falter or go down with an injury over the long season that Swihart won’t make a marginal impact with the Red Sox.
Along with producing at an adequate rate offensively, the backstops will have to handle the Red Sox loaded pitching staff with a few new faces, riding the likes of Price, Porcello and Sale to another postseason birth and fighting their way for the Red Sox’ ninth World Series title.