Twins agree to 3-year deal with veteran backstop Vázquez (source)
MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins crammed certainly one of their most urgent offseason wants by agreeing to a three-year, $30 million take care of veteran catcher Christian Vázquez on Monday, pending completion of a bodily, a supply advised MLB.com.
The membership has not confirmed the deal, which was first reported by MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.
Under supervisor Rocco Baldelli and present staff management, the Twins have proven a powerful choice for operating a timeshare behind the plate, and within the 32-year-old Vázquez, Minnesota has discovered a revered Spanish-speaking veteran to companion with former prime prospect Ryan Jeffers — one who brings 4 seasons of playoff expertise, together with a pair of World Series titles.
Though Vázquez spent the primary seven-plus seasons of his profession with the Red Sox, changing into Boston’s longest-tenured participant, he was traded to the Astros finally season’s Trade Deadline and appeared in six postseason video games as a part of Houston’s run to the championship. Vázquez was behind the plate for the Astros’ mixed no-hitter towards the Phillies in Game 4 of the Fall Classic.
Both Vázquez and Jeffers hit right-handed, which means it will not be a real catching platoon, because the Twins have carried out up to now with Mitch Garver working alongside Jason Castro and Alex Avila. But with Jeffers nonetheless searching for offensive consistency, Minnesota has been open about wanting one other catcher to separate time following the departures of Gary Sánchez and Sandy León to free company.
Vázquez has been lauded for his preparation behind the plate and his likability within the clubhouse, and he’ll be part of a trio of fellow Puerto Ricans — Jose Miranda, Jorge López and Jovani Moran — on a Twins roster that may lean on vital contributions from younger Latin-American pitchers like Jhoan Duran and Jorge Alcala.
Vázquez graded out as a median pitch framer, ranked in MLB’s fifty fifth percentile final season, however he was price 11 defensive runs saved, tied with J.T. Realmuto for fourth-best amongst catchers. He additionally brings a top-five quickness in his trade when throwing out runners, which helped him rank in MLB’s 71st percentile in pop time final season.
The clubhouse presence and preparation might be what the Twins pay for throughout the following three seasons, as Vázquez has been a stable however unspectacular hitter all through his profession, with a .695 OPS throughout 2,633 plate appearances. His finest season, by far, was in 2019, when he crushed 23 homers in 138 video games, however that is the one 12 months by which he reached double digits.
This transfer leaves shortstop as the one obvious gap on the Twins’ roster as they proceed to attend for Carlos Correa’s choice, although there are nonetheless loads of paths ahead for them to pursue impression additions, maybe by front-line pitchers or right-handed hitters.
Even with Vázquez within the combine, they nonetheless have loads of payroll flexibility to proceed free-agent pursuits on a fast-moving market, and areas of depth from which to commerce on their Major League roster, if wanted, although their farm system stays comparatively depleted as a result of their frenzy of commerce acquisitions within the final 12 months.
