Agent: Red Sox reserve Blake Swihart wants trade

Boston Red Sox prospect Blake Swihart's agent requested a trade as his client struggles to find his niche with the team that drafted him in the first round in 2011.

Agent Brodie Scoffield outlined his position for NBC Sports Boston on Tuesday. Scoffield said he shared his take with the Red Sox and conversations are ongoing. Swihart has 32 plate appearances in 2018.

"We've had conversations with the team, and they're aware of how we feel," Scoffield said. "Blake's in a really difficult position. We've got a switch-hitter, offensive impact player, and his bat deserves a chance to be in the lineup. Blake's not the type of player that's going to ask or demand a trade (on his own). He's focused on what's in front of him and happy having a positive impact on the team and the situation at hand. That being said, I don't think we're building any type of trade value, nor helping him progress as a ballplayer, nor is the team really being served by him in this role."

Red Sox team president Dave Dombrowski did little to quell the concern with second baseman Dustin Pedroia soon to be promoted. Dombrowski said that Swihart, as the third catcher, should not expect much playing time.

"The reality is, your 25th player usually doesn't play that much anyway," Dombrowski said.

Scoffield said the Red Sox are cross-training Swihart all around the field. Since playing 84 games as a rookie in 2015, when Swihart had five home runs and hit .274, he's played in 40 total games and just 15 this season. Swihart is 4-for-29 at the plate in 2018.

"We're talking about Blake being the Marwin Gonzalez of the Red Sox," Scoffield said. "We're talking about ground balls at second base, we're taking ground balls at third base, we're in the outfield, we're catching. But none of that's materialized. And so it's mixed messages. It's an undefined role for a player that can catch, that can hit, and whose athleticism allows him to move all around the diamond."

--Field Level Media