Minnesota Twins Veteran Makes Offseason All-MLB Trade Rumor Team

This offseason, Minnesota Twins new president Derek Falvey will be tasked with improving a roster that tripped mightily down the stretch in 2024. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the financial flexibility to do much of it on the open market.

That doesn’t mean it will be a quiet winter. MLB insiders around the country are expecting the Twins to be active on the offseason trade market. There are a few candidates who make sense for Falvey & Co to shop.

Christian Vazquez expected to be dealt by Minnesota Twins

If the Minnesota Twins are going to add talent, they first need to subtract salary. The most obvious salary dump trade candidates are (C) Christian Vazquez and (P) Chris Paddack (who is supposedly drawing interest already).

Related: Derek Falvey Takes Dave St. Peter’s Job as Minnesota Twins President

As a catcher, Vazquez plays a position that is thin throughout the league, and that’s expected to draw him a lot of potential suitors. In fact, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand named the 34-year-old Puerto Rican to his All-MLB Trade Rumor Team on Tuesday.

“Minnesota is expected to trim payroll this offseason. With Ryan Jeffers under club contractual control for two more years, dealing Vázquez and his $10 million salary wouldn’t be a surprise. The 34-year-old has been unable to repeat his breakout 2019 season at the plate, but he remains a solid defender who can handle a pitching staff. Clubs seeking help behind the plate won’t have a ton of options. If the Twins are open to paying down part of the final year of Vázquez’s contract or include a prospect in a trade, he could be on the move this winter. Minnesota could also opt to move Jeffers to address other roster needs.”

Mark Feinsand on Christian Vazquez’s trade market (MLB)

Why did Vazquez make this All-MLB trade rumors team?

Vazquez buzz is only at a “medium” level because of his trule horrendous 60 OPS+ in 2024. Nonetheless, it makes sense for teams to be interested, just on his above average defense, alone. His framing skills are high end and he is more than adequate blocking balls too.

That’s before you factor in his ability to manage a pitching staff and opposing batting lineups, his World Series experience… etc. The catcher market was already thin, entering the offseason. That was before the Los Angeles Angels scooped up Travis d’Arnaud for $12 million over two years.

According to Feinsand, it’s unlikely another team will be willing to pay the entire $10 million left on Vazquez’s deal.We’ll see if the Twins can unload him at a cost that makes them feel his loss in the dugout and on the field will be worth paying a portion of $10 million for him to play elsewhere.

In honor of 10 years in #MLB, the #MNTwins brought in a Puerto Rican band to celebrate Christian Vàzquez. His wife, Gabriela, hired the band, brought in his parents and had an arrangement of balloons at his locker. Lyrics were specific to him. pic.twitter.com/1SEVOx7Bfk

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) August 15, 2024

Related: Minnesota Twins Might be Able to Pay Roki Sasaki More Than Most MLB Teams

If the Twins are able to move Christian Vazquez, the catcher position would be turned over to Ryan Jeffers and rookie Jair Camargo. That puts a ton of pressure on the former to stay healthy, consistent, and produce. But it’s a move that is long overdue.