Sox don't tender contract to catcher Holaday

BOSTON -- The Red Sox announced Friday that they did not tender a 2017 contract to catcher Bryan Holaday, making Holaday a free agent.
Sandy León, Christian Vázquez (out of Minor League options) and Blake Swihart are vying for two spots behind the plate. That didn't leave room for the 29-year-old Holaday, who was acquired from the Rangers on Aug. 5, 2016.
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In 14 games, Holaday hit .212. In 151 career games over five seasons, he is a .245 hitter with five homers and 44 RBIs.
Boston tendered contracts to the 31 remaining unsigned players on its roster, including lefty reliever Fernando Abad, who was acquired from the Twins on Aug. 1. That group also includes shortstop Xander Bogaerts, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., righty Joe Kelly, lefty Drew Pomeranz, lefty Robbie Ross Jr., utility infielder/outfielder Brock Holt and Leon.
The Red Sox's roster now sits at 39 players.
When Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski made the trade for Abad, the hope was that Abad could be the team's lead southpaw in the late innings. But Abad struggled for his new team, notching a 6.39 ERA in 18 games. By the end of the season, he was mainly pitching in low-leverage situations.
Abad was a much different pitcher for the Twins prior to the trade, registering a 2.65 ERA in 39 games. 

Righty Brandon Workman, who didn't pitch at all in the Majors last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, is arbitration-eligible for the first time now that the Sox have tendered him a contract. He has been property of the Red Sox since he was drafted in 2010.