Catcher and sometimes utility player Blake Swihart agreed to a one-year $910,00 deal in his first year of arbitration. That’s an upgrade from the near major league minimum of $563,500 he received last year but falls below the $1.1 million he was projected for.
The #Redsox and Blake Swihart settle at $910,000
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 11, 2019
Swihart will be the lowest paid of these arbitration-eligible players on the team this year. The low salary isn’t surprising, in part due to this being only his first year going through the process. He’s also cemented into a backup role and coming off a poor season.
The shine has faded on the once-promising prospect as the team has struggled to find consistent playing time for him. Swihart’s defensive skills behind the plate have been a work in progress for years, with his progress stalled by the organization’s insistence on trying him at various other positions.
His bat was always what made Swihart most appealing but we haven’t seen him approach his potential at the plate in years. It’s hard to find a groove when you rarely get to play. Swihart hit .229 with a .613 OPS in 192 at-bats last season.
Next year will be more of the same. Swihart is a seldom-used third catcher who occasionally fills in at other positions or gets at-bats as a pinch-hitter. Barring injury or trade, it’s hard to imagine his role expanding beyond that.