Red Sox trade Leon to Indians

The Boston Red Sox have traded catcher Sandy Leon to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for minor-league right-hander Adenys Bautista, the teams announced Monday.

Leon was going to be non-tendered before Monday's deadline had a trade not been worked out, reports MLB.com's Ian Browne. He's projected to earn $2.8 million in arbitration, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

The 30-year-old Venezuelan backstop hit .192/.251/.297 with five home runs and 19 RBIs in 65 games for the Red Sox last season.

Leon is considered a strong defender and pitch framer. He has 27 defensive runs saved since 2017, and his 15.3 FRM (catcher framing above average) ranks seventh among backstops with at least 400 innings caught over the past two seasons.

Bautista, a 21-year-old Dominican reliever, recorded a 6.75 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in 12 innings in the 2019 Dominican Summer League.