According to a report by Dan Hayes and Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres have engaged in trade discussions. A league source revealed that veteran catcher Christian Vázquez has been mentioned in the talks, with both teams appearing motivated to reach a deal. However, the source cautioned that an agreement is not imminent at this time.
The Padres are in the market for a new everyday catcher, according to Hayes and Lin. With the free agent market dwindling, a trade is becoming increasingly likely. Vázquez is a potential target. The veteran catcher is entering the final year of his contract, set to earn $10 million in 2025. Despite sharing playing time with Ryan Jeffers, Vázquez has been a consistent presence for the Twins, appearing in 177 of 324 games since 2023.
Twins-Padres Trade Talks: Focus on Christian Vázquez
The numbers support this assessment. Over the last two seasons, Vázquez has posted bWARs of 1.9 and 0.9. In contrast, Padres catcher Luis Campusano struggled in 2024, producing a -0.5 WAR while hitting .227/.281/.361.
The Twins’ offseason has been quiet, despite their need for a first baseman and corner outfielder. However, one area where they’ve been active is acquiring catchers, making a trade involving one of them a logical move.
According to Hayes and Lin, the Twins have expressed interest in Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease. A 2022 American League Cy Young Award runner-up, Cease boasts an impressive resume. Last season, he recorded a 3.47 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 224 strikeouts, earning a 4.2 bWAR.
In contrast, the Twins’ top starting pitcher in 2024 was Bailey Ober, with a 2.9 bWAR. Pablo López led the team with 198 strikeouts. Acquiring Cease would significantly upgrade the Twins’ rotation, making him a desirable piece in a potential trade.
Hayes and Lin say that a sticking point in negotiations is who will cover the majority of Vázquez’s contract. They note that the Padres expect to exceed the luxury tax threshold, so they want the Twins to cover the majority of his contract. For both teams that haven’t made much of an impact this offseason, this trade could be the biggest move they make before the season.
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