GLENDALE, Ariz. — In a swap of left-handed hitting catchers, the Sox sent Triple-A catcher Zack Collins to the Blue Jays in exchange for Reese McGuire, who could be the No. 2 catcher behind Yasmani Grandal. In McGuire, the Sox get a well-regarded defensive catcher who batted .253/.310/.343 with one homer in a career high 219 plate appearances last season.
McGuire, 27 is a career .248/.297/.390 hitter with 10 homers over parts of four seasons with the Jays. He is out of options and was in a three-catcher mix with Toronto and rates an edge over Seby Zavala and Nick Ciuffo on the Sox depth chart.
“Reese McGuire is a player we’ve targeted for a while,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “We view him as a very strong defensive backstop, solid on framing and lateral movement as well as catching and throwing and handling a game plan and managing a pitching staff.
“A nice addition, good complement to Yas, and someone we look forward to arriving here in the next couple days before we head out.”
McGuire was charged with indecent exposure after an incident in February 2020 at a shopping center parking lot in Dunedin, Fla. McGuire later pled no contest to a disorderly conduct charge, a second degree misdemeanor, and was fined $500.
Collins, a first-round draft pick in 2016 a .195/.315/.330 hitter over three seasons who struggled defensively, never lived up to expectations with the Sox. The Sox optioned Collins to Charlotte on Friday.
Collins, a first-round draft pick in 2016 a .195/.315/.330 hitter over three seasons who struggled defensively, never lived up to expectations with the Sox. The Sox optioned Collins to Charlotte on Friday.
McGuire and Collins are both former first-round picks and top 100 prospects.
