Swihart put in position
Catcher will get second chance
FORT MYERS — Even if it seems like a longshot for an out-of-options player who has yet to get a real chance as a big league regular, the Red Sox are going to give catcher Blake Swihart a look at second base.
The second base job isn’t going to be easy to win. Dustin Pedroia, recovering from knee surgery, hopes to be back by Opening Day but realistically is looking at a return in May. Brock Holt and Marco Hernandez are healthy and well-regarded, in addition to being natural middle infielders.
Swihart, a shortstop in high school who has been a catcher for the majority of his professional career, never has played second base. And the Red Sox gave him no specific position to work out at during his offseason, not even when he called manager Alex Cora and asked him for one.
“He asked, ‘Where should I take ground balls?’” Cora said yesterday. “It doesn’t matter. Go to one spot. I just want you to move your feet, and we go from there. We’re going to challenge him, and he’s up to the challenge.”
It’s a lofty challenge, to be sure. Swihart played some first base in winter ball and some outfield in 2016 before he wrecked his ankle in a collision. He never felt fully healthy in 2017 but finally thinks he’s there this spring.
He’s out of options and will be competing against Holt and Hernandez for a roster spot. If he doesn’t make the major league team, he’ll either have to be designated for assignment or traded.
“I see Swihart in the mix of the Red Sox on the 25man roster,” Cora said. “This is a guy that, offensively, he’s a plus, and he’ll bring versatility to our roster.
“Obviously he’s gone through his up and downs health-wise. We know when he’s healthy, he’s very important. He’s going to catch. He’s actually taking ground balls . . . . You’ll see him in spring training in different positions.”
Pedroia is slated to arrive to camp Friday, and the Sox will make sure he’s healthy before he’s on the field.
“When he’s healthy, he’s one of the best second basemen in the big leagues,” Cora said. “He can perform. I saw it firsthand last year in the playoffs. He wasn’t able to use his legs, and when you can’t use your legs offensively, you’re limited.”
No answers
When it comes to catcher, Cora isn’t ready to show his hand. Asked several times if he wants to use one regular catcher as opposed to former manager John Farrell’s strategy of splitting the duties almost evenly between Christian Vazquez and Sandy Leon, Cora wouldn’t give an answer.
“I anticipate that we’re going to have a great defensive catcher, a general behind the plate that is going to execute the game plan,” Cora said. “Both of them are capable. On a daily basis. we’ll see. And both are really, really good.”
On Martinez watch
Free agent outfielder J.D. Martinez is still being pursued by the Red Sox and the Diamondbacks. FanRag.com reportedthe D’backs are trying to get creative with shortterm contracts that could be desirable for Martinez, who hit 29 of his 45 homers last year with Arizona. The Red Sox are believed to have offered Martinez a five-year deal near $125 million.
Red Sox pitcher David Price, Martinez’ teammate in Detroit, said he’s spoken to him several times.
“I told him we’d love to have him here,” Price said. “He knows that, and he’s going through his process. He put in a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of hard work to get to the point where these free agents are right now, and you usually only get to do it one time, so you want to make sure you do it right.”
Price said he has confidence in president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.
“And if we have the same team we have now, I know everybody in this locker room, this clubhouse, is extremely confident in the lineup we’re throwing out there every day,” Price said.
Banking on Bogaerts
Shortstop Xander Bogaerts has three years left of team control before he’s eligible for free agency, and Cora is hoping to get the best out of him.
“Xander Bogaerts is one of the best shortstops in the league,” the manager said. “You look at his numbers, you look at his on-base percentage last year (.343), it wasn’t that bad. Sometimes we talk about batting average on balls in play and all that stuff, nagging injuries or whatever. Sometimes you have a bad year. It happens. People bounce back.
“Physically, he’s up there with the best. Mentally, he’s in a good place right now. I’m looking forward to working with him on a daily basis. I was a big fan of him when he got called up, the way he slowed down the game. At that age, it was very impressive. There are certain things offensively we think he can do to put himself in a better hitting position that’s going to help him out.”