Grading the Boston Red Sox’ perplexing trade deadline moves

BOSTON, MA - JULY 6: Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom of the Boston Red Sox looks on before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 6, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JULY 6: Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom of the Boston Red Sox looks on before a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on July 6, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
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Reese McGuire
Jun 14, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Reese McGuire (21) makes a catch for an out during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Reese McGuire: B

The Sox immediately replaced Vázquez with Reese McGuire by sending struggling reliever Jake Diekman to the Chicago White Sox. Chicago will also send Boston either a player to be named later or cash.

Unloading Diekman allows the Sox to shed salary for next year as well, as he was owed $4M in the second year of his 2-year deal. He posted a 4.23 ERA over 44 games, the most appearances by any pitcher on the Red Sox roster. He also blew three of Boston’s 21 blown saves, the second-most in the majors.

Defensively, McGuire’s 46.7% strike rate behind the dish is the lowest of his career, but his +7 Defensive Runs Saved is just ahead of Vázquez’s +6.

McGuire is arbitration-eligible for the next three years, undoubtedly a significant part of his appeal to Bloom.

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