Red Sox Sandman hits .310
Looking at the transaction page for switch-hitting Sandy León, you need a calculator. The latest deal is a minor league deal with the Cleveland Guardians. León played five seasons with the Red Sox hitting just .212, but the defense part was critical with one exception. León’s .310 season in 2017 was an anomaly, but every player hopes for a career year, and this was Sandy’s.
In the title year of 2018, León split duties with Christian Vázquez, and León was back to his weak bat ways, hitting just .177. I recall León’s ability to get the occasional big hit despite his low career average. This was present in the WS when León went three for six against the Dodgers.
In 2019 the batting average took another jolt under the “Mendoza Line,” and León was gone. Leon is just the type of catcher the Red Sox could snag in 2022 if a rash of injuries hit the backstop position and a solid defender. An excellent insurance policy.