Red Sox Rumors: Los Angeles Angels have interest in Christian Vazquez

Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez has Anaheim’s attention

Things have been picking up in a big way for the Boston Red Sox as of late. With a quiet start to the offseason, they’ve begun to add pieces that could turn them from losers to contenders in 2021. One of the better players already on the roster over the last few seasons has been Christian Vazquez, and his level of play is earning him some interest.

Fansided’s Robert Murray and Masslive.com’s Christopher Smith have both reported that the Angels are looking to beef up their catching squad and Vazqy is on their list. Though LA recently signed Kurt Suzuki, Murray states that the team is still looking to improve at the position. Based on what we’ve seen from Vazquez since becoming Boston’s top catcher, it should come as no surprise.

“The asking price for Vasquez, 30, is said to be very high and there are doubts whether the Red Sox will entertain trading him,” Murray said. “He is an above-average defender with an emerging offensive game, hitting 30 home runs in his last 185 games and slashing .283/.344/.457 last season.”

I fully agree with Murray’s assessment that the Angels would have to come with one hell of a trade package to wrestle Vazqy away from the Red Sox. This team has gone from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows over the course of the last three seasons and through all of that Vazquez has been a leader in the clubhouse. Not only that, but his work behind the plate not just on defense but in the prep work for his pitching staff is top-notch.

I don’t know what the plan would be going forward if the Red Sox were to ship Vazquez away but the next logical step would be to promote Kevin Plawecki to the starting job. After that though, I’m not sure. Do you call up Connor Wong and see if he can hang in the big leagues? Do you go after another veteran catcher on the free-agent market to become the new backup? It’s a tricky situation that I don’t see many positives being the result.

At the end of the day, having Vazqy in your lineup is an instant boost in the right direction. Also, having his mentor back in the Manager’s office should do wonders for his confidence and abilities. The star catcher hasn’t been secretive that he wants to spend his entire career with Boston and would love to retire in a Red Sox uniform, but he also knows this is a business.

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This isn’t the first time the backstop has seen his name in the trade rumors as Smith points out. Vazquez was a hot ticket as the league approached the trade deadline this past season but Boston wasn’t willing to part with their catcher for anything less than a King’s Ransom. It’ll take just as much if Anaheim or any other team want’s to add him to their roster as it’s clear the Red Sox have big plans for him.

Vazquez is signed with Boston through 2021 and has an option for the 2022 season. Again, with just Plawecki and seemingly Wong behind him in the pecking order, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the team activate his option for next year and possibly offer an extension. If he continues on the upward trajectory that he’s currently on then it would be wise for Chaim Bloom to lock him up for the long-term before his salary gets to be out of reach.

I’m not surprised to see Vazquez’s name popping up in the rumor mill once again, especially after the deadline back in August. I would be surprised if Bloom accepts a deal for the catcher unless it’s something that would allow for an instant improvement to the current squad. With that being unlikely, and probably why they’re coming out of the gates hot with their asking price, how about we just move on from these shenanigans and keep Christian at Fenway Park for the foreseeable future.