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Red Sox: 1 player who boosted their trade value in spring training

By Scott Rogust

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 10: Christian Vazquez #7 of the Boston Red Sox in action against the Atlanta Braves in a spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 10, 2021 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 10: Christian Vazquez #7 of the Boston Red Sox in action against the Atlanta Braves in a spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 10, 2021 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Boston Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez received trade interest this offseason. A good spring training may have boosted his value.

Spring training is nearing its end and all 30 MLB teams have begun narrowing down their rosters heading into the 2021 regular-season. Strong performances by players not only help them make the roster, but can boost their trade value for the upcoming deadline.

The Boston Red Sox are not a team looking to trade any of their prospects. General manager Chaim Bloom inherited one of the worst farm systems in the league and he is slowly but surely improving it. In that case, the Red Sox are in a position to potentially flip one of their better major league players. If one person fits the bill, it is catcher Christian Vazquez.

Red Sox: Boston did receive trade calls on Christian Vazquez

The Red Sox did move on from a couple of pivotal players this offseason. They allowed outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. to sign with the Milwaukee Brewers out of free agency and they traded Andrew Benintendi to the Kansas City Royals in a three-team trade also involving the New York Mets. Another player that could have been moved if Bloom wanted to was Vazquez.

FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray reported that the Los Angeles Angels were interested in acquiring Vazquez (as well as Willson Contreras of the Chicago Cubs) this offseason to upgrade their catching situation, but the Red Sox’s asking price was deemed “very high.”

This spring, Vazquez was impressive at the plate. Through 11 games, Vazquez has slashed .333/.360/.458 with eight hits and four runs scored. Vazquez tied second baseman Enrique Hernandez and outfielder Jarren Duran for second-most doubles on the team with three.

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Catchers who can put up quality hitting numbers are difficult to come by in today’s MLB. Vazquez continued to show off his skills inside the batters box this spring. While the exhibition games may not matter to some, Vazquez’s trade value will only grow if he puts up similar numbers throughout the first half of the upcoming season.

Oh, and his contract includes a club option worth $7 million for the 2022 season, which should further increase the return package the Red Sox would receive if they were to decide to trade him for pieces. If baseball has taught us anything over the years, there is always a team desperate enough to give up the farm for a player.

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