{"id":22419,"date":"2025-01-28T05:10:09","date_gmt":"2025-01-28T05:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=22419"},"modified":"2025-01-28T05:10:37","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T05:10:37","slug":"should-red-sox-consider-outside-the-box-trade-for-old-friend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=22419","title":{"rendered":"Should Red Sox Consider \u2018Outside-The-Box\u2019 Trade For Old Friend?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Boston Red Sox could look toward a member of their 2018 World Series championship squad to bolster their depth heading into 2025.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-5\"><\/div>\n<p>Boston already has Connor Wong slated to take the field as its starting catcher on Opening Day in over eight weeks, but the front office might not be content with its backstop options. The Red Sox acquired 26-year-old catcher Carlos Narv\u00e1ez from the New York Yankees in December and allowed Danny Jansen to depart in free agency, and according to MassLive\u2019s Chris Cotillo, another addition could be on the horizon.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps a reunion with former homegrown product Christian V\u00e1zquez?<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-4\">\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1719924\" data-uid=\"143d0\">\n<div id=\"mgw1719924_143d0\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"mgbox card-media\">\n<div class=\"mgheader\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"22a8ae1a-dd36-11ef-8812-c84bd6826d76\" class=\"mgline teaser-21912227 type-w\" data-i=\"4yLDK-NbZwDaImOT1TzbUKqmflAmX3fspT1lCbuz9mQbNDvAGMddFh6l0Cfhw2uHdCrKFrcGEpaURQR9-YQ-mcu8lMB2zk7W2zxma7SLo8s*\" data-cat=\"IAB9-7\" data-observing-start=\"1738041014219\" data-observing-time=\"1016\" data-showed=\"1\">\n<div class=\"mgline-inner\">\n<p>Here\u2019s what Cotillo wrote:<\/p>\n<p><em>Boston could add some depth behind Connor Wong by adding a veteran free agent like Yasmani Grandal, Elias Diaz or James McCann. The club could also flex its financial might by turning toward an old friend. It\u2019s another outside-the-box idea, but a trade with the Twins for Christian V\u00e1zquez would make some sense. At 34 (35 in August), V\u00e1zquez had a down year in 2024 but works well with pitchers and is a Cora favorite. Most importantly, he\u2019s readily available because the Twins are looking to shed payroll and he\u2019s worth $10 million in 2025, the final year of his three-year, $30 million contract from December 2022. The Red Sox are prioritizing defense behind the plate this year anyway.<\/em><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>V\u00e1zquez spent the first eight seasons of his big-league career with the Red Sox after being promoted from Triple-A in 2014. He hit .262\/.311\/.389 with 54 home runs and most notably crushed a career-best 23 home runs with the club in his 2019 breakout campaign. V\u00e1zquez prided himself most on his defensive development and demonstrated that by working with legend \u2014 and fellow Puerto Rican native \u2014 Yadier Molina during the offseason.<\/p>\n<figure><\/figure>\n<p>It\u2019s been three years since the Red Sox traded V\u00e1zquez to the Houston Astros in exchange for then-prospects Wilyer Abreu and Enmanuel Valdez. The swap granted V\u00e1zquez a second successful trip to the World Series as Houston defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games, however, it didn\u2019t shut the door for good on V\u00e1zquez\u2019s (presumed) desire to return to Fenway Park before the end of his career.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m going to be open,\u201d V\u00e1zquez told reporters in Houston in 2022, per Cotillo. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be free agency for my first time. We\u2019ll see what happens. You never know.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"autors-widget\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<article id=\"post-2008681\">V\u00e1zquez ultimately inked a three-year, $30 million contract with the Twins in free agency, which is set to expire by the end of this upcoming season. That leaves $10 million remaining on V\u00e1zquez\u2019s contract and the avenue for a beneficial reunion for both sides. V\u00e1zquez could receive his desired return home to Fenway Park while the Red Sox regain a veteran with championship experience and familiarity with the organization.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Story continues below advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Not to mention, V\u00e1zquez is also a right-handed bat and a defensive upgrade from Jansen.<\/p>\n<p>The Red Sox have two weeks until pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers, Fla., for the start of spring training.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-3\">\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1686928\" data-uid=\"138ec\">\n<div id=\"mgw1686928_138ec\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"mgbox\">\n<div class=\"mgheader\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"row1\">\n<div id=\"22a8d9cf-dd36-11ef-8812-c84bd6826d76\" class=\"mgline teaser-14573270 type-w\" data-i=\"4yLDK-NbZwDaImOT1TzbUM7R3mkrD8Ixf3KibJkH-ltzXX1FJce9uD9BS88CjvYKdCrKFrcGEpaURQR9-YQ-me98Xec0eAeWxwOYAHQhA-w*\" data-cat=\"IAB6\" data-observing-start=\"1738041014004\" data-observing-time=\"1001\" data-next-up-showed=\"true\" data-showed=\"1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Boston Red Sox could look toward a member of their 2018 World Series championship squad to bolster their depth heading into 2025. &nbsp; Boston already has&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22420,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Should Red Sox Consider \u2018Outside-The-Box\u2019 Trade For Old Friend? 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