MLBTR Top Trade Candidates: Christian Vazquez & Chris Paddack

[Brock Beauchamp]

MLB Trade Rumors released their top 35 trade candidates for the 2024-2025 offseason. To the surprise of absolutely no one in the room, the two Twins that made the list are the biggest salary concerns on a Twins team already over their projected payroll for 2025: catcher Christian Vazquez and pitcher (starter? reliever? mascot?) Chris Paddack.

Vazquez can be considered a luxury on a Twins team battling baseball economics: he's a good defensive backstop with limited offensive capabilities and is slated to make $10 million in his walk season. Paddack is a different story but a similar payroll concern: he's due to make $7.5 million in 2025 but only made 17 starts last season. It's also uncertain whether the Twins want him in the rotation on Opening Day or would prefer to move him to the bullpen where his velocity and speed has played up in the past.

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[RpR]

Interesting what they said there about Arraez, while they bragged up with pure bollocks about Jeffers in the Vazquez part.

Rooker could be the Cruz replacement.

[Riverbrian]

If they can clear a significant portion of that 10 million off the books by trading Vazquez... it sounds like a solid plan. I'm all for it. 

One problem though. We don't have a replacement and a decent replacement will be costly which will just put you back at the same place financially.

If the replacement isn't costly it will just put you back at the same place performance wise because the reason the replacement isn't costly is because he performs like Vazquez has performed. 

Even if they could move Vazquez. They might be able to. The problem is that teams are not trading for Vazquez while picking up a significant portion of the 10 million until Jansen in free agency are out of reach or James McCann is out of reach at whatever he gets in the market. So... by the time they move Vazquez because other teams are out of options... the replacement options are no longer available.   

When Camargo who makes the minimum can't be trusted to get AB's in 2024 with .575 guy blocking him. You haven't got a replacement in house. If you haven't got a replacement in house... you gotta spend the money you saved by trading him on Danny Jansen.  

If they move Vazquez and just install Camargo as the replacement after being scared of Camargo in 2024. We would have every right to question the front office. 

[DJL44]

Looking over that list there are several players the Twins should pursue, even if they don't necessarily have the highest bid.

1) Garret Crochet - a cheap, top of the rotation pitcher for the next two seasons

6) Jesus Luzardo - same

13) Jorge Soler - would the Braves eat some cash?

20) Brendan Donovan - anyone want a 2nd Willi Castro for the roster? This one doesn't switch hit.

21) Nolan Gorman - straight up for Julien?

23) Leody Tavares - plays all 3 OF positions, switch hits, makes only $4.3M

25) Chas McCormick - buy low candidate

34) Luis Robert Jr - buy low with All-Star upside

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cory Engelhardt]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Looking over that list there are several players the Twins should pursue, even if they don't necessarily have the highest bid.

1) Garret Crochet - a cheap, top of the rotation pitcher for the next two seasons

6) Jesus Luzardo - same

13) Jorge Soler - would the Braves eat some cash?

20) Brendan Donovan - anyone want a 2nd Willi Castro for the roster? This one doesn't switch hit.

21) Nolan Gorman - straight up for Julien?

23) Leody Tavares - plays all 3 OF positions, switch hits, makes only $4.3M

25) Chas McCormick - buy low candidate

34) Luis Robert Jr - buy low with All-Star upside

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soler was already traded today to the Angels for Giffin Canning

[cmoss84]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Looking over that list there are several players the Twins should pursue, even if they don't necessarily have the highest bid.

1) Garret Crochet - a cheap, top of the rotation pitcher for the next two seasons

6) Jesus Luzardo - same

13) Jorge Soler - would the Braves eat some cash?

20) Brendan Donovan - anyone want a 2nd Willi Castro for the roster? This one doesn't switch hit.

21) Nolan Gorman - straight up for Julien?

23) Leody Tavares - plays all 3 OF positions, switch hits, makes only $4.3M

25) Chas McCormick - buy low candidate

34) Luis Robert Jr - buy low with All-Star upside

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't think Chicago would trade us Crochet/Robert...but I'd be all for it. 

I'm intrigued with Bednar and Rooker. A lot of the relievers will cost a pretty penny, but Bednar's bad season might make him reasonable to get. 

[tony&rodney]

Twins Daily covered Vazquez pretty much already. It is fine to trade Vazquez (or Jeffers for that matter), but first the Twins need to acquire a catcher or two via trades. Several trades have already been completed and it is time for the Twins to get active.

[DJL44]

40 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Several trades have already been completed and it is time for the Twins to get active.

I don't think anything exciting is going to happen until the team is sold.

[Mike Sixel]

4 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Soler was already traded today to the Angels for Giffin Canning

The Angels have no idea where they are in the competitive landscape, unless they plan to add like 4 pitchers and several more hitters.....why are they adding a guy this old?

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

I don't think anything exciting is going to happen until the team is sold.

Seems likely, other than shedding payroll if they can (but I don't see a real way to do that).

[tony&rodney]

5 hours ago, DJL44 said:

I don't think anything exciting is going to happen until the team is sold.

So 2-3 years?

 

[Parfigliano]

4 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

The Angels have no idea where they are in the competitive landscape, unless they plan to add like 4 pitchers and several more hitters.....why are they adding a guy this old?

They are the Angels.  It's what they do.

[nicksaviking]

20 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

If they can clear a significant portion of that 10 million off the books by trading Vazquez... it sounds like a solid plan. I'm all for it. 

One problem though. We don't have a replacement and a decent replacement will be costly which will just put you back at the same place financially.

If the replacement isn't costly it will just put you back at the same place performance wise because the reason the replacement isn't costly is because he performs like Vazquez has performed. 

Even if they could move Vazquez. They might be able to. The problem is that teams are not trading for Vazquez while picking up a significant portion of the 10 million until Jansen in free agency are out of reach or James McCann is out of reach at whatever he gets in the market. So... by the time they move Vazquez because other teams are out of options... the replacement options are no longer available.   

When Camargo who makes the minimum can't be trusted to get AB's in 2024 with .575 guy blocking him. You haven't got a replacement in house. If you haven't got a replacement in house... you gotta spend the money you saved by trading him on Danny Jansen.  

If they move Vazquez and just install Camargo as the replacement after being scared of Camargo in 2024. We would have every right to question the front office. 

I'd disagree, in that even if you sign a pricey backup, he's still likelier than not to hit like Vazquez. I don't think Danny Jensen's odds of being an offensive weapon are significantly higher than say Christian Bettencourt or Yan Gomes.

It's the backup catcher spot, I'm more than happy going back to the Mike Redmond/Drew Butera method with the position. Spend the money elsewhere.

[Riverbrian]

38 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I'd disagree, in that even if you sign a pricey backup, he's still likelier than not to hit like Vazquez. I don't think Danny Jensen's odds of being an offensive weapon are significantly higher than say Christian Bettencourt or Yan Gomes.

It's the backup catcher spot, I'm more than happy going back to the Mike Redmond/Drew Butera method with the position. Spend the money elsewhere.

I agree... I'd install Camargo if he's the best you got and live with it. I'd prefer that to paying the prices for someone who might play in 90 games if healthy. 

The problem is Camargo being the best you got. The problem is no competition for a .575 OPS. 

[nicksaviking]

4 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

I agree... I'd install Camargo if he's the best you got and live with it. I'd prefer that to paying the prices for someone who might play in 90 games if healthy. 

The problem is Camargo being the best you got. The problem is no competition for a .575 OPS. 

Right, but the lack of competition is pretty typical for a backup catcher, whether he's paid 10M or 1M.

And really, in the years that they aren't rostering a Vazquez of Jason Castro in addition to their internal option, they usually stash a veteran in AAA. 

I'm Ok rolling with Camargo, but I suspect most aren't, including the front office. I'd just grab a Tucker Barnhart or Yan Gomes knowing that whether it's an OPS of .400 or .600 it's not worth worrying about the degree to which they are impacting the team. You're not counting on them to help offensively in any scenario.

[Riverbrian]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Right, but the lack of competition is pretty typical for a backup catcher, whether he's paid 10M or 1M.

And really, in the years that they aren't rostering a Vazquez of Jason Castro in addition to their internal option, they usually stash a veteran in AAA. 

I'm Ok rolling with Camargo, but I suspect most aren't, including the front office. I'd just grab a Tucker Barnhart or Yan Gomes knowing that whether it's an OPS of .400 or .600 it's not worth worrying about the degree to which they are impacting the team. You're not counting on them to help offensively in any scenario.

Agreed

Anything is better than paying the inflated prices for upside. 

Catchers are not 162 game players. Does anyone here want to give up a potential 162 game guy like Jenkins or Erod for Rushing? That's the kind of price tag. Or a Pablo Lopez for Rushing... that's the kind of price tag. 

Catchers typically don't hit the ball that well so even if they Barnhart their way through the catching problem they created by not creating... the offensive drop off isn't that stark when compared to other catchers playing the position across the league.

If you do happen to find a catcher that can hit the ball and defend. That player still won't be a 162 game player. 120 games is typical top end for the best of the best at the position but they will cost as much as the 162 game guy. 

Just grab a defensive guy at low dollar and live with the offense. It's exactly what they are doing with Vazquez to the tune of 10 million bucks that we don't have. 

 

[JD-TWINS]

21 hours ago, cmoss84 said:

I don't think Chicago would trade us Crochet/Robert...but I'd be all for it. 

I'm intrigued with Bednar and Rooker. A lot of the relievers will cost a pretty penny, but Bednar's bad season might make him reasonable to get. 

Bednar looked a lot like Emilio Pagan in ‘24 … A LOT! One decent - one bad - two good - one decent - two terrible……much of the year from what I saw over 8-10 viewings of Pirates.

No crystal ball from me nor anyone in a GM seat:

My “must get one” guys via trade or via FA last offseason for ‘24 were BEDNAR/Pirates - pretty bad year……… J. MONTGOMERY/Arizona - terrible year……..D. WILLIAMS/Brewers - hurt for 4 months and crumbled in Playoff game. Never know who is going to work out.

Inside Division Trades seem like a stretch, as you point out. (Crochet/Robert)

I’m actually GOOD with our entire staff at this point. Obviously, adding is always cool but to me, we need to be focused on run production help!

Staff: Paddack - Blewett - Stewart - Varland - Henriquez - Winder - Funderburk - Topa - Sands - Jax - Duran - Moran for starters in the Pen…………Lopez - Ober - Ryan - SWR - Festa is a good base with Morris - Matthews - Lewis - Raya developing in St. Paul. 

I’d consider trading Duran & moving Jax to closer’s role. Duran - Julien - a AA pitcher as a package to Boston for Casas, their 1B……that’s my early off-season hope.

I like Rooker’s upside but I assume he’s an 8 figure guy at this point …….. the negative isn’t really cost it’s that he clogs the DH spot. With Lewis - Miranda - Buxton on the roster, it seems that DH is already filled - right?

[tony&rodney]

2 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

I’d consider trading Duran & moving Jax to closer’s role. Duran - Julien - a AA pitcher as a package to Boston for Casas, their 1B……that’s my early off-season hope.

Might be worth digging into some. I would rather the Twins move Lewis to 1B and trade Duran plus another guy for Jordan Lawler of the Diamondbacks. Lawler can play third and step in for Carlos when needed. Jordan has speed, a real slick glove, a big accurate arm and should hit. Lawler also fits in with the Twins because he has been injured each of the last two years.

[Doctor Gast]

On 10/31/2024 at 4:05 PM, tony&rodney said:

Twins Daily covered Vazquez pretty much already. It is fine to trade Vazquez (or Jeffers for that matter), but first the Twins need to acquire a catcher or two via trades. Several trades have already been completed and it is time for the Twins to get active.

Twins haven't been able to develop catchers since Tanner Swanson. Get rid of Conger & find a good one.

Since the Twins can't develop catchers then they have to go to expensive FA (Vazquez) or trade. Catching is a premium position where defense really matters. So trading away Vazquez would be suicide, I don't trust Carmargo or Jeffers to go the innings that'd be required of them. For reasons I explained many times before I'd trade Jeffers. We'd forego Jeffers's $4.7M this year & Vazquez's $10M next year. There are many desirable young MLB-ready catchers out there but they are all very expensive in trade value.

There's one underrated young MLB catcher, Drew Romo (CO) that has the tools to become an above-average catcher, majoring more in defense. He's a switch-hitter that caught in 95 games in AAA with pretty good results hitting & got in 16 games at the MLB level (catching in 111 games shows stamina). Romo has been CO's future catcher but Black has been leaning towards Hunter Goodman lately. Both are expected to share catching duties for '25 but rumors have it that CO wants to acquire a veteran possibly sign Stallings back. 

CO is lacking in many areas, but 3 of the worst areas are C, RP & SP. My suggestion is trading Dobnak ($4M, SP), who I've always thought be a good fit for CO along with Jeffers ($4.7M) & Topa ($1.2M, RP) for prospects, Romo & Cole Carrigg, who I think has all the tools & character to be an excellent catcher. I'd prefer not to put Romo in a spot of obligating to start so many games  & again I don't trust Carmargo so I'd also like to trade for (PIT) Joey Bart. Joey Bart was one of my low-risk trade candidates last season that PIT picked up for nothing & became a very productive catcher for them. He could help in tandem with Vazquez plus giving plenty of opportunity for Romo to come up & help out.

I'd trade Paddack to HOU. #1 Paddack is Texan, #2 HOU needs SPs, #3 we can find a replacement in the trade market & #4 $7.5M that HOU can afford. To even out the trade I'd throw in Severino which HOU also needs some help at 1B & 3M much more than we do. In exchange, we could pick up a lotto ticket.

In these trades, we'd clear $16.4M for this season while $10M will come off the books next season. Without compromising the integrity of our core, Having $ to sign extensions to our key players instead of trading them away. Win/ win situation for all parties & we'd secure our future catching depth for years to come so we can compete for a World Series during that time. I like that idea better than trading away our core & continue on the path that helps us to compete with CWS for the cellar.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

CO is lacking in many areas, but 3 of the worst areas are C, RP & SP. My suggestion is trading Dobnak ($4M, SP), who I've always thought be a good fit for CO along with Jeffers ($4.7M) & Topa ($1.2M, RP) for prospects, Romo & Cole Carrigg, who I think has all the tools & character to be an excellent catcher.

Why in the world would the Rockies, who want to cut payroll and are a non-contender, do a prospects-for-veterans trade? They're a poorly run organization but they know what cycle of competing they're in.

I will also add that Colorado has had more than one opportunity to add Randy Dobnak to their team for the cost of a waiver claim and declined. The Twins will have to attach a prospect of at least $4M value to get rid of Dobnak's contract.

[Doctor Gast]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Why in the world would the Rockies, who want to cut payroll and are a non-contender, do a prospects-for-veterans trade? They're a poorly run organization but they know what cycle of competing they're in.

I will also add that Colorado has had more than one opportunity to add Randy Dobnak to their team for the cost of a waiver claim and declined. The Twins will have to attach a prospect of at least $4M value to get rid of Dobnak's contract.

Rockies don't like to rebuild, even though they should have a long time ago, so they aren't looking for prospects. They didn't want to pick Dobnak up on the waiver wire because they didn't want to pay his salary without receiving any compensation. The value of Jeffers & Topa versus the value of undervalued Romo & Carrigg, compensated for Dobnak. Receiving Jeffers & Topa is much cheaper than going to FA which they normally do plus pay a premium for pitchers & $4M for Dobnak isn't bad if he comes through for them which is likely. The trade makes CO stronger & would cut their payroll. You just have to sell it. They should buy it.

[DJL44]

17 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Rockies don't like to rebuild, even though they should have a long time ago, so they aren't looking for prospects. They didn't want to pick Dobnak up on the waiver wire because they didn't want to pay his salary without receiving any compensation. The value of Jeffers & Topa versus the value of undervalued Romo & Carrigg, compensated for Dobnak. Receiving Jeffers & Topa is much cheaper than going to FA which they normally do plus pay a premium for pitchers & $4M for Dobnak isn't bad if he comes through for them which is likely. The trade makes CO stronger & would cut their payroll. You just have to sell it. They should buy it.

Rockies Journal: Forecasting Colorado's offseason moves

Quote

Colorado’s payroll will take a dip in 2025, multiple sources confirmed.

The Rockies will be looking to trade some veteran players. The top candidates are second baseman Brendan Rodgers and starters Cal Quantrill and Austin Gomber. All three are scheduled to become free agents after the 2025 season.

Either via trade or free agency, the Rockies’ primary goal is to add a steady, consistent hitter to their lineup.

Ranking second on Colorado’s wish list is finding a veteran for the bullpen. 

The catching situation remains in flux as the club waits to see how Hunter Goodman and Drew Romo develop. Veteran Jacob Stallings, who signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Rockies last offseason, had a $2 million mutual option for the 2025 season. He’s indicated that he’d like to return but he’ll likely negotiate for a new contract after hitting .263 with nine homers and an .810 OPS. Stallings, 34, calls an excellent game and is the kind of veteran the cub needs to help develop Goodman and Romo. Look for Stallings to return and enter spring training as the Rockies’ primary catcher and mentor.

If I was going to target a Rockies catcher, I think Jose Miranda and Jorge Alcala would get some interest. There might be a deal here, but I think you have the wrong players to fit their expressed needs.

[Doctor Gast]

10 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Rockies Journal: Forecasting Colorado's offseason moves

If I was going to target a Rockies catcher, I think Jose Miranda and Jorge Alcala would get some interest. There might be a deal here, but I think you have the wrong players to fit their expressed needs.

I'm familar with that story. 3B isn't the biggest need of CO & they are stuck with players that 1B is the only place they can play, so they wouldn't be interested in Miranda. Jeffers & Topa has much more hype & CO would be more interested in them. I don't think Alcala wouldn't drum as much interest than Jeffers & Topa which would make Dobnak more interesting to at least fill in the back of the rotation. They'll fill their bigger needs. CO has more money than we do. Why do we want to trade 2 of our better-valued players? While creating a hole at 1B?

This trade addresses more than picking up a very good young catcher. It's about cutting fat so that we don't have to cut anymore muscle that affects our productivity & chemistry. Have extra money so we can extend key players & yes create a solid catching base for now & the future.

[Boswell]

Viva la Tortuga!  🐢 

Bring back Willians Astudillo as backup C and utility man. 
 

Clear salaries of Vasquez and Castro.  $16 million saved! 😜