Red Sox trade rumors: Dombrowski:says to look for Swihart deal within 24 hours
By NBC Sports Boston Report April 19, 2019 5:43 PM
Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters that he expects to finalize a trade of catcher Blake Swihart in the next 24 hours.
Swihart, 27, was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Tuesday. That move gives the team seven days to trade, release or have him accept a minor league assignment. Dombrowski, speaking Friday to reporters in St. Petersburg, where the Sox open a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays, that there could be an announcement on a Swihart deal as soon as tonight.
Dave Dombrowski said Chavis' bat is Major League ready. Still working on defense - esp at 2B. Also said team expects to finalize a trade for Swihart, saying there could be an announcement as soon as tonight.
— Tom Caron (@TomCaron) April 19, 2019
Dombrowski said he's optimistic Red Sox will have a deal done involving Blake Swihart, perhaps as soon as within 24 hours.
— Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) April 19, 2019
After announcing the DFA move on Tuesday, Dombrowski said he had been trying to trade Swihart since last spring training. The Houston Astros were rumored this week to be a possible destination for the native of Bedford, Texas, who was a first-round pick of the Sox in 2011. The organization parted ways with him in favor of calling up veteran catcher Sandy Leon from Triple-A Pawtucket, who was viewed as a superior game-caller and defensive catcher.
Theo Epstein, now team president of the Chicago Cubs, and Mike Hazen, now general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, were in the Red Sox front office when Swihart was drafted and have plenty of familiarity with him.
Swihart was hitting .231 (4-for-26) in 12 games this season with a .695 OPS, a homer and four RBI after hitting .229 with a .613 OPS, three homers and 18 RBI in 82 games last season.
Tags: Houston Astros, Dave Dombrowski, Blake Swihart, Boston Red Sox