Catchers
Christian Vazquez, Sandy Leon, Blake Swihart
Vazquez should get the majority of the playing time behind the plate on the heels of a breakout season. He looks ready to emerge as one of the best all-around backstops in baseball now that his bat has started to catch up with his glove. His share of the workload should increase from the 60/40 split the Red Sox used for the majority of last season at the position.
Leon can add value as a defensive-minded backup. Vazquez is a terrific defensive catcher in his own right but he’ll need a day or two off each week to keep him fresh. Leon can be trusted to manage this pitching staff when called upon.
It’s rare for a team to carry three catchers but Swihart’s versatility makes it feasible. He’ll be more of a utility player who happens to be capable of backing up the catcher position. Manager Alex Cora should feel more comfortable pinch-hitting for Leon late in games knowing he has Swihart as an insurance policy. If anything happened to Vazquez after Leon was taken out, Boston wouldn’t be left stranded without a catcher. Swihart’s ability to cover other positions means he won’t be wasting a roster spot as a seldom-used third catcher.