Two-time World Series champion reportedly on trade block

The Padres and Twins have had discussions about a potential trade that would send veteran catcher Christian Vazquez to San Diego, report Dan Hayes and Dennis Lin of The Athletic .

Theres no indication that a deal is imminent.

Indeed, Hayes suggests that conversations have slowed recently, but that doesnt mean that the sides wont continue talks in the coming days.

Vazquez is both a logical trade candidate for Minnesota and an obvious fit for San Diego.

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said last week that the teams trade talks had started to pick up steam.

While Falvey didnt identify specific players under discussion, Vazquez is arguably the most obvious candidate.

Hes entering the final season of a three-year free-agent deal.

He has split time with Ryan Jeffers over his two years in the Twin Cities.

Over the past two seasons, Jeffers carries a .246/.328/.456 batting line in exactly 800 trips to the plate.

Vazquez has hit .222/.265/.322 through 670 plate appearances.

Manager Rocco Baldelli nevertheless stuck to the even divide in playing time last year.

Each player made 81 starts.

Jeffers caught 720 1/3 innings, while Vazquez logged 719 frames.

Jeffers clearly brings a much higher offensive ceiling.

Vazquez is the superior defender.

While Jeffers receives subpar grades for his receiving skills, Vazquez has long been a quality pitch framer.

He was also a superior blocker.

Last year, Vazquez was charged with just one passed ball and was behind the plate for 19 wild pitches.

Jeffers committed three passed balls and allowed 28 wild pitches.

Despite Vazquezs defensive advantage, the Twins may prefer to give Jeffers an extra 15-20 starts to keep his bat in the lineup.

Thats particularly true when considering the financials.

Vazquezs deal pays him $10M annually.

Thats a lot for a part-time catcher.

Minnesotas front office has been hamstrung by the budget for a second straight offseason.

The Pohlad family ownership group has been loathe to raise payroll as they explore a sale of the franchise.

Minnesota has not made a single major league free-agent signing this winter.

Their biggest moves have been depth trades for Mickey Gasper and former top catching prospect Diego Cartaya.

The Padres are in a remarkably similar spot.

While ownership isnt selling the franchise, theres litigation amongst the Seidler family for control.

San Diego has slashed payroll for two straight years themselves.

They also have not signed any major league free agents or made any trades of consequence.

Padres president of baseball operations A.J.

Preller has his work cut out for him in addressing multiple areas of need with a limited budget.

Catcher is probably the biggest issue on the position player side.

San Diego hoped that Luis Campusano would run with the job in 2024.

Instead, he hit .227/.287/.361 while grading as one of the leagues worst defensive catchers.

Campusano ceded the starting job to Kyle Higashioka down the stretch.

Higashioka landed with the Rangers on a two-year free-agent deal, leaving Campusano as the default projected starter.

Brett Sullivan is the only other catcher on the 40-man roster.

San Diego recently added Martin Maldonado on a minor league contract.

He hit .119 in 48 games for the White Sox last season.

Chicago released him in July.

The 34-year-old Vazquez would provide a significant defensive upgrade over Campusano.

While he hasnt produced at the plate in Minnesota, he was a league-average hitter (.274/.315/.399) between the Red Sox and Astros back in 2022.

Theres more hope for getting something offensively from Vazquez than there would be if they select Maldonados contract.

San Diego would not take on Vazquezs entire salary.

Hes comparable to Jacob Stallings ($2.5M) and Austin Hedges ($4M), each of whom signed cheap one-year deals as free agents this offseason.

The Padres could push for Minnesota to eat at least half the money to facilitate a trade.

Hayes and Lin write that the Twins are reluctant to pay down too much of the deal.

Their primary motivation of trading Vazquez would be salary relief.

Theyd also perhaps need to earmark a couple million dollars for a veteran to back up Jeffers (e.g.

Elias Diaz, Yasmani Grandal).

The other catchers on their 40-man roster Cartaya and Jair Camargo have five combined games of MLB experience.

Minnesota is looking for a first baseman who can replace Carlos Santana.

Theyre seeking a right-handed hitting outfielder as well.

Beyond Vazuqez, Chris Paddack ($7.5M) stands as their clearest trade candidate to create a bit of payroll room.

To be clear, theres no suggestion that the Padres have interest in reacquiring Paddack.

Justin Turner, Anthony Rizzo and Ty France are among the unsigned first basemen.

Mark Canha, Austin Hays and Randal Grichuk are a few righty-swinging outfielders still on the open market.

In addition to their catching pursuit, San Diego needs back-end rotation help and a replacement for Jurickson Profar in left field.

Theyre unlikely to achieve all of that without shedding salary in a trade of their own.

Dylan Cease is their biggest trade chip.

Hell make $13.75M in his final year of arbitration.

Dealing him would be a huge hit to an already-thin rotation, but theyd net MLB help in return while creating a decent chunk of short-term payroll space.

The Athletic reports that the Twins are among a number of teams that have shown interest in Cease.

Vazquez obviously would not be a key piece in a trade of that magnitude, but he could be included as an ancillary part of a much larger package.

As a comparison, Higashioka was probably viewed as the fifth-most valuable player in San Diegos return from the Yankees for Juan Soto at the time of that trade.

This article first appeared on MLB Trade Rumors and was syndicated with permission..

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