FORT MYERS, Fla. – A day after Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell said the team would look “internally” to find a catcher, the team announced that it acquired catcher Sandy Leon from the Washington Nationals for cash considerations.

The Red Sox also announced that catcher Christian Vazquez has been placed on the 60-day disabled list with an elbow injury.

Ryan Hanigan, acquired in the off-season from San Diego, will become the No. 1 catcher.

The No. 2 spot was considered battle between 22-year-old prospect Blake Swihart and 35-year-old journeyman Humberto Quintero.

But Farrell hinted that Swihart could use more development. And, apparently, the Red Sox favored Leon over Quintero.

Leon, 26, has played only 34 major league games of the past three years. In the minors, he has been a .236 hitter (.229 last year in Triple-A). But his defense stands out. He threw out 57 percent of potential base-stealers last year.

Vazquez visits Dr. James Andrews Wednesday for a second opinion about his sore elbow. Andrews is best known for performing Tommy John procedures, the ligament-transfer surgery that normally sidelines players at least one year.


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