Red Sox Rays Baseball

Boston Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez catches a pop fly behind the plate hit by Tampa Bay Rays' Oswaldo Arcia, right, during the sixth inning Tuesday, June 28, 2016, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

We saw the type of positive impact catcher Christian Vazquez can have on a game (and pitching staff) Sept. 25 in the Red Sox's 3-2 10-inning win over Tampa Bay when four Red Sox pitchers combined for 23 strikeouts.

In the process, Eduardo Rodriguez and Heath Hembree set a major league record by striking out 11 straight batters.

Vazquez has the ability to be an elite receiver, blocker and thrower. He already has showed it. But he didn't hit well enough to keep his starting job during 2016. He slashed just .227/.277/.308/.585 in 57 games.

Sandy Leon overtook him on the depth chart. The Red Sox optioned Vazquez to Triple-A Pawtucket in early July and didn't recall him until September. They wanted him down there receiving everyday reps after missing the 2015 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

The Sox felt it was best for him to play every day at Pawtucket instead of sparingly as Leon's backup.

But the Red Sox won't have that option with Vazquez in 2017 because he'll be out of minor league options. That means he'd need to be designated for assignment if he doesn't make the 25-man roster out of spring training camp.

He no longer can be optioned/recalled freely back and forth from Pawtucket to Boston.

Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski already has said Leon is the starting catcher heading into spring training camp.

As noted in a MassLive.com article last week examining Red Sox players who will be out of minor league options starting in 2017, expect for Vazquez to make the major league roster over Blake Swihart simply because Vazquez no longer has options and Swihart does.

The Red Sox have told Swihart, who also played some left field during 2016, to prepare as a catcher this offseason.

Swihart at least beginning the 2017 season as Triple-A Pawtucket's starting catcher seems logical, unless he can impact the major league club as an outfielder.

If the Red Sox ever consider a blockbuster trade this offseason involving either Jackie Bradley Jr. or Andrew Benintendi, then Swihart would be a leading candidate to start the year as the left fielder. If Boston traded Bradley, Benintendi would shift from left to center field.

Vazquez could overtake Leon as the Opening Day starting catcher if he has a better spring training.

After all, Leon's success during 2016 simply could be an aberration, not the new norm for him. He slashed just .238/.325/.330/.654 in 10 minor league seasons (612 games).

But he then posted a .310/.369/.476/.845 line with seven homers, 17 doubles, two triples and 35 RBIs in 78 games for Boston during 2016.

But his offensive stats tailed off during September (did he come back to real life for good?). He slashed .213/.286/.253/.539 during the final month of the regular season.

Don't expect Swihart to overtake either Vazquez or Leon even if he's the best catcher at spring training simply because of the roster crunch and the need to keep the depth. The Red Sox are in an ideal position with three quality catchers.

The 26-year-old Vazquez -- who is salary arbitration eligible in 2018 and free agent eligible following the 2020 season -- is playing winter ball in Puerto Rico for Cangrejeros de Santurce.

Vazquez has played nine games. After a tough start, he went 6-for-11 with a homer, two walks, a stolen base and four runs in his past three games.

Overall, Vazquez now is 9-for-33 (.273 batting average) with a .400 on-base percentage, .364 slugging percentage, .764 OPS, one homer (his only extra-base hit), seven walks and three strikeouts.

OTHER CATCHING DEPTH

Bryan Holaday remains on the 40-man roster with Swihart, Vazquez and Leon but don't expect him to remain there too much longer.

Holaday is entering his first year of salary arbitration. He's estimated to make $800,000 for 2017, per MLBTradeRumors.com.

The Red Sox are unlikely to tender Holaday a contract. That would make him a free agent.

Who else does Boston have on its roster for depth?

Jake Romanski and Danny Bethea were not added to the 40-man roster, leaving them unprotected in December's Rule 5 Draft. However, neither likely will be selected by another team in the draft.

Romanski, a 14th-round pick in 2013 out of San Diego State, slashed .308/.338/.410/.748 with four homers, 22 doubles and 38 RBIs in 90 games for Double-A Portland in 2016.

He'll turn 26 in December. He threw out 49 percent of base stealers (53-of-108) in 2016.

Bethea, a 34th-round pick in 2013 out of St. John's who turns 27 in January, slashed only .180/.206/.320/.526 in just 31 games for Portland during 2016. He threw out 23 percent of base stealers.