Red Sox trade Blake Swihart to D’Backs
The Blake Swihart Era officially came to end on Friday, as the Red Sox traded the largely-mismanaged catcher to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for minor-league outfielder Marcus Wilson.
Designated for assignment on Apr. 16, Swihart departed the Red Sox having appeared in 12 games for Alex Cora’s struggling club, with one homer, four RBIs, and a .231 batting average in 26 at-bats. A man without a solidified role of any sort, the Red Sox essentially moved on from Swihart to bring Sandy Leon back up from Pawtucket given Boston’s pitching woes.
A first-round pick of the Red Sox back in 2011, Swihart, who was moved away from his natural catcher position to log time in the outfield and infield over his bizarre five-year journey with the Red Sox, appeared in 203 games over that span with the Red Sox, totaling nine homers, 58 RBIs, and a .255 batting average.
Wilson, meanwhile, comes to the Red Sox system from the Jackson Generals (Double-A) with a .235 average, two homers and seven RBIs in 12 games this season.