Hopefully Vazquez catches 120 games this year. I think he is ready to take the next step. IMO he is already one of the best overall catchers in the game, hes just been limited with playing time. He is already a top 5 defensive catcher, his PB numbers were up this year, but I think that is an aberration.
Hopefully they find someone to replace Sandy Leon as the #2. Leon is an anchor in the lineup, and not in a good way. He is the definition of a black hole offensively and his defense doesn't make up for his offensive ineptness. I would probably accept Leon as a backup more, as long as he played 40 or less games a year.
If Vaz gets 120 games, I think Leon catches Sale and only Sale.
Sale had a 2.63 ERA with Leon behind the plate.
He pitched 209 out of 214.1 innings with Sandy.
The overall evidence is inconclusive, but he does seem to struggle more with Vaz....
CERA
2015:
4.15 Hanigan (39 IP)
4.47 Swihart (107)
7.86 Leon (26)
2016:
2.52 Leon (107 IP)
3.45 Hanigan (16)
3.64 Vaz (94)
6.00 Swihart (6)
2017:
4.47 Leon (163)
5.36 Vaz (40)
I'd be fine with giving Porcello to Leon, but we might need more offense when Porcello pitches.
Vazquez had 11 passed balls last year. 4th most in 2017. Not what I was expecting from him.
Vazquez's pitch framing was about as good as I have seen. Now I know that I don't follow other catchers much and I certainly don't pay attention to their advanced statistics but I watched a whole bunch of games and he really is good. I think that I have actually seen progression though. Early in the season last, i felt that he was actually trying to move balls back into the strike zone that maybe he didn't need to move. I felt at the time that it might have cost his pitchers some strikes. His framing is much more subtle IMO. I really thin that he is good - one of the best that I have seen.
I'm pretty sure most GMs view Vaz as an overall plus defender.
He can and should still get better.
Vasquez should make the next step to full starter - remember it took him a while to emerge last year, so I am not sure how much to hold the pitcher splits against him. He clearly hits well enough to not be a drag - I mean he is a mediocre hitter, but good enough for the defense to play. And he did improve at the plate over the season. But a .270 hitter who doesn't give away at-bats with his framing and arm is clearly a good starting C.