Report: Javier Vazquez 'Impressive' in Winter League Tune-Up With Red Sox Scouts Watching

Report: Javier Vazquez ‘Impressive’ in Winter League Tune-Up With Red Sox Scouts Watching

by NESN Staff on Sat, Jan 5, 2013 at 1:58PM

Javier Vazquez may still have it.

The 36-year-old tossed six innings of three-hit ball in front of scouts from the Red Sox, Rays, Nationals and Royals on Friday night in the Puerto Rico Winter League playoffs, according to Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. Former Red Sox infielder and current Criollos de Caguas general manager Alex Cora said in a text that Vazquez was “impressive,” allowing no runs and throwing his fastball as high as 93 mph, Bradford reports.

Vazquez has drawn the interest of several major league teams after a year away from the game. After a down year with the Yankees, where he went 10-10 with a 5.32 ERA (compared to 2.87 ERA the year before) in 2010, Vazquez bounced back with the Marlins in 2011, going 13-11 with a 3.69 ERA in 32 starts. He’s now among those pitchers who have taken a year off and are eyeing a comeback.