Red Sox Sign Christian Vazquez To A Three-Year Extension

Today, the Red Sox announced that they have signed Christian Vazquez to a three-year extension with a club option for the 2022 season. Back in January, the Red Sox avoided arbitration with Vazquez by agreeing to a one-year, $1.4 million deal for 2018, so the three-year extension doesn’t kick in until the 2019 season, which would’ve been his second year of arbitration eligibility. As a result, the extension buys out his last two remaining years of arbitration, plus one year of free agency. Also, if picked up, the club option would buy out what would’ve been year-two of a free agent contract had the extension not been agreed upon.

Back in the Theo Epstein days here in Boston, the Red Sox had a team policy that if they were to sign a player to an extension prior to or during their arbitration eligibility, the contract would have to be able to buy out at least one free agent year. They did it with both Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz. With Vazquez’s extension, the Red Sox now avoid having to have their starting catcher’s salary determined by an arbitrator over the next two years, while also controlling up to two free agent years through his age-31 season.

Last year, Vazquez caught 99 games for the Red Sox, and hit a sneaky .290 with a .735 OPS. For a guy who doesn’t exactly have the most eye-popping slugging percentage, it’s absolutely hilarious that whenever he hits a home run, it’s always a 500-foot piss rocket, and he always pimps the shit out of it. It’s incredible.

But above all else, he’s one of the best defensive catchers in the game. Per the Red Sox, since Vazquez was called up in 2014, he has thrown out 42% of attempted base stealers, which is the highest rate for any catcher since 1987 with a minimum of 200 games behind the plate. Pretty good!

All that being said, Red Sox pitchers had a 3.41 ERA in the 84 games that Sandy Leon was behind the plate last year compared to a 4.02 ERA in 95 games that Vazquez was. That’s not supposed to come across as a knock on Vazquez so much as it is an acknowledgement of Leon’s value to the team, as well. With Blake Swihart having a monster spring, while also being out of options, the Red Sox should entertain the idea of keeping three catchers. With Swihart being able to play other infield and outfield positions, the Red Sox could look to move one of Brock Holt or Deven Marrero to make room for Leon and Swihart on the same roster as Vazquez, who’s clearly their guy.