Catcher Christian Vazquez, Twins finalize 3-year, $30M deal
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Having gained a pair of World Series titles, Christian Vazquez hopes to win one other with the Minnesota Twins.
“A great opportunity,” he mentioned Friday on the MLB Network after finalizing a $30 million, three-year contract. “They have a great team. Let’s see where we go. I’m looking for another ring.”
The 32-year-old Vazquez, who will get annual salaries of $10 million, performed for Boston from 2014 till Aug. 1, when he was traded to Houston. He gained titles with the Red Sox in 2018 and with the Astros this season.
A local of Puerto Rico who plans to play within the World Baseball Classic, he faces chilly climate for dwelling video games early and late within the season.
“I came from Boston and it was cold, too,” he mentioned. “It doesn’t matter.”
He might return to Fenway Park for the primary time for the reason that commerce when the Twins play at Boston from April 18-20.
“Maybe I’ll cry,” Vazquez mentioned. “It’s going to be special.”
He hit .274 with 9 homers and 52 RBIs in 119 video games this yr and appeared in six postseason video games, batting .235 with three RBIs. He was the catcher in World Series Game 4 when the Astros mixed to pitch a no-hitter towards the Phillies.
Vazquez broke into the majors with the Red Sox in 2014. He hit .262 with 54 homers and 266 RBIs in 698 video games for Boston and gained a World Series ring there in 2018.
After buying and selling Mitch Garver to Texas earlier than final season, the Twins failed to interchange his manufacturing on the plate on their strategy to a 78-84 end for third place within the AL Central after main the division for many of the summer time.
Gary Sanchez, who made 80 begins at catcher after arriving in a take care of the New York Yankees, turned a free agent after hitting 16 dwelling runs in 419 at-bats with a dismal .659 OPS.
Ryan Jeffers stays beneath membership management, coming into his fourth yr within the majors. His 2022 season was spoiled by damage, and his batting output — seven homers in 212 at-bats and a .648 OPS — was no higher than Sanchez’s.
