The Boston Red Sox made a few deals on Monday prior to the Tuesday MLB Trade Deadline. Boston is sending catcher Christian Vazquez to the Houston Astros, and are acquiring outfielder Tommy Pham from the Cincinnati Reds and catcher Reese McGuire from the Chicago White Sox.
The full trade package to pick up Pham wasn’t immediately known. The 34 year old has hit .238 with 11 homeruns and 57 runs scored in his first year in Cincinnati. Pham has a 1.5 million dollar mutual option in his contract for the 2023 season. McGuire has hit .225 in 53 games with the White Sox. He’s thrown out 11 of 36 baserunners, a 30.6% mark that is fourth best in the American League. McGuire became expendable when Yasmani Grandal returned from injury. Seby Zavala has also outplayed McGuire, as Zavala entered action on Monday with a .296 average with two homeruns in 30 games. McGuire is eligible for arbitration the next three years. Chicago in exchange for McGuire gets a second left handed reliever in their bullpen with Jake Diekman, who has gone 5-1 with a 4.23 ERA in a team high 44 appearances with Boston.
The Red Sox will receive two minor leaguers from Houston in return for Vazquez, infielder Emmanuel Valdez and outfielder Wilyer Abreu. Vazquez found out the news while taking batting practice in Houston, as the Sox are in Texas to start a three game series with the Astros and quickly had to change dugouts and be pulled from the Boston lineup. The Puerto Rican born backstop has put together another solid season hitting .282 with eight homers and has driven in 42 runs. He has spent his entire career in Boston making his MLB debut in 2014, and was part of the 2018 World Championship team. He is in his final season of a three year, 13.4 million dollar contract. Earlier on Monday, Houston also acquired outfielder/first baseman/designated hitter Trey Mancini from the Baltimore Orioles. The Red Sox are excepted to make more moves on Tuesday before the 6 p.m. deadline, which may include Nathan Eovaldi, JD Martinez, or both. The team seems confident they can keep both Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts for now.
