Swihart is the ceiling guy, Vasquez is probability. Certainly Swihart has shown at lower levels he can be very good defensively too. Clearly there is a gap in pitch framing which is sad but true (sad that it is a thing). It is a good problem for the Sox to have. Swihart earlier on looked overwhelmed, but the tools - both offensively and behind the plate - are obvious. This isn't shoehorning a bat.
It would have to be for a top tier guy as he is arguably our most valuable trade chip right now. We could be selling high on him or he could become a star. That is for DD to figure out.
The thing with high value prospects is that once you give them the job of they hit .250- .260 with 12 HRs and average defense, they lose value as trading chips.
Interestingly at this point, both guys have more or less identical ML samples:
Vasquez 201 PAs .240/.308/.309
Swihart 210 PAs .259/.301/.345
Both rated well defensively. Really a question of upside and whatnot. I'd choose Swihart myself, but I would be against seeing what he can fetch because Vasquez is such a likely starter.
I think you're debating elite vs very good ... instead of elite vs Hanley Ramirez in LF ... neither will be a minus back there. When discussing the two catchers on this board, because Swihart is a good athlete, good enough to play an infield position competently - the discourse seems to lapse into him basically catching because of his bat, like he was Mickey Tettleton. He looks like he will be a very good defensive catcher. There is a real possibility Swihart's total package eclipses Vasquez, and the defense would be part of that package.
The fascinating thing to me is Vasquez' pitch framing vs Swihart's bat - and that is probably where the decision point is ... that and whether you think Vasquez can hit better than what he has shown so far (which is not quite enough, but close)
Last edited by sk7326; 08-21-2015 at 09:40 AM.
Tough decision, and nice problem to have. From what I've read, Swihart rates as the better catcher overall, but I have a soft spot in my heart for Vazquez. For me, a catcher's top priority is what he does behind the plate, and most think that Vazquez is elite in that regard. I read this morning that he has been with the team this entire season while rehabbing, sitting in on the meetings, etc. You have to love that in a player. The idea of having a Vazquez/Hanigan tandem next season is very exciting to me.
Not that I'm trying to knock Swihart. I would hate to see him traded. I'd like to see him tried out at 1B.
Blake will be a good major league hitter, maybe even very good. I don't think that he projects as elite, offensively or defensively. Vasquez, if healthy, is already an elite defender. I am always in the camp of keeping the elite talent. If Swihart could play third base, that would be great. We could dump Fatass and dumbass.