Minnesota Twins Trying to Trade Veteran Catcher for Major Rotation Upgrade

Dylan Cease - San Diego Padres
Credit: Chadd Cady-Imagn Images

It’s almost as though the Minnesota Twins have forgotten they can make roster moves during the MLB offseason. With an impending sale, ownership has mandated that Derek Falvey spend no money (not that they needed a reason). Sure, some minor league free agents have been acquired, but that has been the extent of the Twins’ action, so far.

The assumption heading into the winter was that Minnesota would move a veteran contract in order to shuffle the roster. Players like Christian Vazquez, Willi Castro, and Chris Paddack have all been named in offseason trade rumor reports. But on Wednesday night, details surrounding ongoing talks with the San Diego Padres came to light.

Twins catcher Christian Vazquez is a San Diego Padres trade target

Christian Vazquez - Minnesota Twins
Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Minnesota linked up with the San Diego Padres a few years ago, when they acquired Chris Paddack and Emilio Pagan, just before opening day. New Minnesota Twins Derek Falvey and his right-hand man Jeremy Zoll have reportedly been in talks with Padres GM A.J. Preller regarding a deal that would send Christian Vazquez to the West Coast.

“The Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres have spoken about a potential trade that would send veteran catcher Christian Vázquez to San Diego, league sources told The Athletic. No deal was considered imminent Wednesday, but there appeared to be motivation on both sides to continue talking.”

The Athletic

It makes all the sense in the world for Minnesota to move on from Vazquez. Ryan Jeffers is the superior all-around option behind the dish, and Vazquez carries a $10 million salary in 2025.

A year ago, Jeffers experienced multiple ebbs and flows to his season, producing a 103 OPS+ with a .226/.300/.432 slash line. Although Vazquez is better defensively, his 60 OPS+ and .221/.248/.327 rendered him mostly unplayable in 2024.

San Diego needs a starting catcher and the free agent market is barren. According to a report from Dan Hayes and Dennis Lin (The Athletic), the two-time World Series winner is exactly what the Padres are looking for. What’s holding up the deal? San Diego wants Minnesota to eat more of Vazquez’s 2025 salary.

Related: Four Minnesota Twins Prospects Make Coveted Top 100 List

But the more interesting side of this report may be what the Minnesota Twins are looking to get back, in a deal for Vazquez. Starting pitcher Dylan Cease was dealt to the Padres just last season, but as a pending unrestricted free agent who is set to make just $13.75 million in 2025, San Diego is considering dumping his salary, to cut down on luxury tax costs. The Twins, as they rightfully should be, are very much interested.

A key sticking point in talks between the teams is believed to be how much of Vázquez’s contract San Diego would absorb in a possible exchange. The Padres, who still have multiple needs after missing out on a potential ace in Roki Sasaki, are currently projected to be over the luxury tax threshold.

The Padres would like to keep Cease, but some rival officials believe president of baseball operations A.J. Preller ultimately will have little choice but to move the pending free agent and his $13.75 million salary.

The Athletic

Minnesota eyeing Dylan Cease in return

Dylan Cease - San Diego Padres
Credit: Chadd Cady-Imagn Images

Rocco Baldelli & Co are innately familiar with the 29-year-old starter, considering he spent five years with their division rival Chicago White Sox. In his first year with the Padres, Cease posted a 3.47 ERA with a 3.10 FIP.

Cease, who would slot immediately into the front half of what would be a stacked Minnesota Twins 2025 starting rotation, threw a career-high 189 1/3 innings while striking out 224 batters. It was his fourth-straight season surpassing the 200-strikeout threshold.

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San Diego isn’t a small market team, but they operate in many of the same ways as the Twins. The Padres carried a $170 million payroll last year and would love to drop that number. If Minnesota is willing to eat some of Vazquez’s salary and take on Cease’s number, a common ground could be reached.

The right-hander would provide a good Twins rotation with an outstanding, if short-term, upgrade. But the sides might not find common ground on a package. The Twins would prefer to provide a value-laden package to replenish the Padres’ depth as opposed to the higher-upside talent Preller likes to hunt.

The Athletic

The Twins rotation isn’t in a bad spot, but Cease would unquestionably pair with Pablo Lopez as a second top-tier option. An ability to push Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober down in depth is huge and could create a more sustainable group for Rocco Baldelli this season.

Fallout for the Minnesota Twins

A move to acquire Cease undoubtedly means adding salary. Right now Minnesota is tapped out on that front and the Pohlad family isn’t bringing in more cash. The Padres are likely not interested in the services of either Paddack or Castro, instead opting for prospect talent.

Should the trade include Vazquez and a minor league, it makes sense that veteran arm Chris Paddack would be on the chopping block. He has drawn trade interest and is set to make $7.5 million in 2025. His 2024 4.99 ERA isn’t good, but another organization could be convinced that he represents a depth piece.

Related: Minnesota Twins Full 2025 Coaching Staff Announced

The Twins have been loading up at the catcher position through trades this offseason. The big league tandem would be Jeffers and Jair Camargo. Diego Cartaya has appeal as a former top prospect though, and Mickey Gasper has utility there as well.

If recent offseason moves have tough us anything, it’s to never consider Falvey and the Twins done with making moves. An acquisition of Cease would be huge, and even more so if they can offload Vazquez in the process.

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