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Posted

The recent acquisition of a young catcher could signal the Minnesota front office's desire to move on from one of their incumbent veterans at the position. Which one should it be—if, indeed, either?

Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

On Thursday, the Minnesota Twins made their first splashy (ripply? Breeze-across-a-placid-lake-y?) move of the offseason, acquiring Los Angeles Dodgers catching prospect Diego Cartaya for right-handed pitching prospect Jose Vasquez. A week ago, Cartaya was designated for assignment by Los Angeles to open a 40-man roster spot for recently signed Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) star Hyeseong Kim. Minnesota was proactive and avoided potentially losing Cartaya to another team during the waiver process by shipping a lottery ticket arm in Vasquez, who has yet to pitch in a competitive setting above the Dominican Summer League (DSL).

A consensus Top-20 prospect before the 2023 MLB season, Cartaya's stock has dropped over the last two years. He is no longer a Top-100 prospect on credible rankings, and had dropped to the mid-20s in most Dodgers top prospects lists before the trade. The diminished perception surrounding Cartaya stemmed from offensive struggles in the high minors, evidenced by him hitting .221/.323/.363 between Double- and Triple-A last season. That said, the 23-year-old is an exceptional defensive backstop, causing many to believe he could still generate a respectable MLB career even if he struggles to hit at the major-league level.

Despite not making his MLB debut yet, Cartaya has the defensive prowess to step in as a viable backup catcher immediately. Minnesota already has two starting-caliber catchers on their 26-man roster in Christian Vázquez and Ryan Jeffers, meaning Cartaya is slated to begin the 2025 season at Triple-A St. Paul. That said, things could quickly change.

For the better part of the offseason, those who have speculated and hypothesized which moves the Twins front office could make to accommodate ownership-friendly payroll limitations had been operating under the assumption that the team's payroll was actively hovering around $140 million. Assuming this was the case, the suggestion of trading Vázquez ($10 million) or Chris Paddack ($7.5 million) had become such standard practice that it became the expectation. Many wondered when and where the team would trade Vázquez and/or Paddack—not whether they would do so at all.

However, it is unclear where Minnesota sits in terms of that need to trim money, as a recent report from The Minnesota Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale insinuated the front office may have already met their needs in that regard. Even if they aren't required to cut net salary, though, they still need to part ways with a veteran player. It's the only way to shed the salary necessary to sign a veteran corner outfielder, left-handed reliever, and/or first baseman. That being the case, Vázquez (or his tandem partner Jeffers, who signed a one-year deal for $4.5 million) could be on the way out.

At first glance, Vázquez feels like the obvious candidate. He has one year left on the three-year, $30-million deal he signed before the 2023 season, meaning the veteran backstop’s time in Twins Territory could conclude sooner rather than later. Vázquez is a superb defensive catcher, fresh off posting the 15th-best Defensive Runs Above Average among players with at 700 innings played. However, he has significantly struggled at the plate during his time with Minnesota, hitting .222/.264/.323 with a 63 wRC+ over 670 plate appearances the past two seasons. Most of a catcher’s value resides in his prowess behind the plate and ability to gameplan with starting pitchers, which is why the 34-year-old has been able to carve out a 10-year career despite being offensively deficient. Nevertheless, signs point to Minnesota trading away Vázquez to clear the budgetary space necessary to pursue low-tier free agents like Mark Canha or Austin Hays. That, however, is not the only possibility.

Jeffers, 27, is under contract until the end of the 2027 season. He's blossomed into a terrific slugger for his position, with a stellar 137 wRC+ in 2023 and a 107 mark last season that easily clears the standard for catchers. However, he's far inferior defensively. Last season, Jeffers ranked 100th in the aforementioned defensive metric among players with 700 innings played. (Again, Vázquez ranked 15th.) The 27-year-old particularly struggled with blocking and framing, which are Vázquez’s two greatest areas of strength.

Interestingly, Jeffers has historically generated a quicker pop time and throws the ball harder to second base than Vázquez. While this skill is essential (especially with base stealing on the rise in contemporary baseball), a catcher's ability to manage a pitching staff, block, and frame are insurmountably more critical. Even though Vázquez excels at these ever-important qualities, any argument for keeping him and his bloated, expiring contract over the seven-years younger, $5.5-million cheaper, and vastly offensively superior Jeffers falls flat.

Perhaps, if you're in an optimistic mood, Nightengale's aforementioned report makes any consideration of moving Vázquez or Jeffers moot. If the Twins are already hovering around the ceiling placed upon them by ownership, the front office could ride out the final year of Vázquez's contract and maintain what has been one of the most formidable catching duos in baseball. Doing this would permit Cartaya further time to develop at Triple-A, with hopes of him blossoming into Jeffers's partner in 2026. Also, if Vázquez or Jeffers miss extended time next season (something that didn't happen in 2023 or 2024), Cartaya would function as an intriguing depth piece who could step in as a defensively skilled plug-in until either returns.

Jair Camargo isn't a viable MLB catcher and shouldn't be viewed as anything more than organizational depth. He could easily be designated for assignment later this offseason to make room on the 40-man roster for a veteran free-agent signee or trade acquisition. Mickey Gasper isn't a real catching option and should be viewed merely as an emergency guy, similar to the role Kyle Farmer occupied the previous two seasons. Acquiring Cartaya as a more credible backup option who could blossom into a starting catcher with time was a wise move for a salary-restricted front office. That said, expectations for the one highly-touted prospect's impact on the 2025 team should be tempered as long as Vázquez and Jeffers maintain a spot on the 26-man roster, which seems much more likely after Nightengale's recent report.


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Posted

I like the Cartaya acquisition but the Twins shouldn’t rely on him as a backup option this season until they get a good inside look at him with their own people. There is no guarantee he didn’t show his true colors at AAA last year. If payroll isn’t going to be an issue right now I’d like to see them extend Jeffers and let Vasquez play out the season again in a timeshare. If Cartaya shows anything he can slot in as part of the tandem in 2026 or they can go shopping for another veteran.

Posted

“While this skill is essential (especially with base stealing on the rise in contemporary baseball), a catcher's ability to manage a pitching staff, block, and frame are insurmountably more critical. Even though Vázquez excels at these ever-important qualities, any argument for keeping him and his bloated, expiring contract over the seven-years younger, $5.5-million cheaper, and vastly offensively superior Jeffers falls flat.”

Not sure on this. But, correct me if I’m wrong, wasn’t pitcher ERA lower with Jeffers catching than with Vasquez catching?  

Posted

FWIW, Carmargo is a better glove behind the plate at this moment in time than Cartaya. Take that for what it is worth and ask yourself what sense one could derive from a question which asks whether the Twins should consider trading either Jeffers or Vazquez.

Note, nowhere  here is there a push  for Camargo. Also, worth remembering how the Twins viewed Camargo last summer in his time on the Twins roster.

Finally, the trade for Cartaya was a decent play because the Twins have a year to see if the changes in lattitude results in some adjustments and growth for the young former Dodger prospect. Time and a new view can bring about positive results. 

Posted (edited)
39 minutes ago, High heat said:

Jair Camargo isn't a viable MLB catcher and shouldn't be viewed as anything more than organizational depth.

 

How did you come to this conclusion?  He has a cannon for an arm, I know he is a big dude and doesn’t move great behind the plate.  In ‘23 he hit 23 HR at AAA and put up power number after getting healthy last season.  

He had a 76 wRC+ over 317 plate appearances at Triple-A last season, with the advantages of having ABS for an entire season and playing most of his games at offensive-friendly CHS Field. He is also below average at receiving and framing and has an average arm. His bat or glove would not play at the major league level over an extended stretch. He's much closer to catchers like Brian Serven or Payton Henry rather than solid backups like James McCann or Luis Torrens.

Edited by Cody Schoenmann
Posted

I am really high on Cartaya. As a potential future project who might become a core member of the Twins future. But, if he is a member of the Twins 2025 catching tandem then we are in trouble. I'm not against a trade of Vazquez. If he is dealt, it needs to be soon, then we should sign Elias Diaz as the best option. Won't be much savings in this. If Jeffers were traded, I'm not against this either, then it needs to be done in a creative way to attain Minnesota's future and present ML catcher. Cartaya would possibly be this catchers partner in 2026. If Jeffers is traded then Vazquez stays this season. Cartaya is not ready.

Posted

The Cartaya acquisition does nothing to move the needle on the conversation about the Vazquez/ Jeffers debate. So far we don't even have a 3rd catcher much less a backup catcher. IMO we ideally need 2 young promising MLB-ready catchers (we have none) to be mentored so they can be ready to take over for when both Vazquez & Jeffers are gone. It'll be a big mistake to extend Jeffers to a ridiculous contact that he doesn't deserve just because it'd be the easy thing to do. That'll come back & bite us hard & be an albatross & a sore spot at a premium position. Any catcher we obtain would have to super achieve, be able to hit the ground running & handle the majority of the innings, to make up for the inferiority of Jeffers if we extend him & that's not fair for any catcher.

It'll be a lot easier to trade Jeffers than Vazquez, We can trade Jeffers for a 2nd promising MLB-ready catcher, Vazquez we can't & we have to pay about 1/2 his contract. Vazquez can mentor these young catchers. That is the best case scenario. The worst case scenario. we trade Vazquez, we are stuck with backup catcher Jeffers, floudering AAAA catcher Camargo, AAA catcher Cartaya & AAA partime catcher Gasper trying to stop the bleeding. Then Twins extend Jeffers to an exhorbant contract & we are stuck with Jeffers & his contract for many years at this premium position. Blocking any chance for the Twins to advance into the postseason no matter how great we are everywhere else.

Posted
36 minutes ago, Linus said:

This makes no sense.  Camargo isn’t a backup catcher but Cartaya is?  The guy is closer to being dfa than mlb in 2025.

Seems like it should be an easy agreement from numerous discussions in the past. The Twins cannot remove one of their current MLB catchers until another one is on board. 

Jair Camargo isn't the answer and neither are Diego Cartaya or Mickey Gasper (now listed as an infielder).

Posted

Cartaya is two years younger than Camargo and was a top prospect as a 21-year-old. I guess that all goes into pedigree and proves nothing, but maybe it suggests upside. It's pretty hard to make an "apples to apples" comparison of the two. They are different ages and played with different organizations last year. Camargo's 2024 numbers are very unimpressive on their face, but then so are Cartaya's. 

There is nothing I see to suggest that either guy is ready to hold even a backup catcher role for the Twins at this point, but non-prospects can become prospects (ask Eeles and Keirsey Jr.). To the original post, it's pretty  reckless to trade a catcher who has caught 50% of the innings in each of the last two years when there isn't a backup. 

Posted

First, Jeffers is younger, less expensive, and a FAR better hitter with more power. We can agree to disagree on his defense...and many of us do...but he calls a good game and handles the staff well. Why on earth would they trade him and have ZERO ML catchers available for 2026?

Second, I can't explain the Twins lack of using Camargo when he was brought up last season. A lot has been made of him having a down 2024 with the bat. But he was good in 2022, and even better in 2023. For his MILB career he's thrown out 31% of base stealers. I've heard he's a good teammate, and never heard that he's poor/lousy handling a staff, calling a game, or awful defensively. And his bat in the upper minors is far superior to what Cartaya has done thus far. So I strongly object to him not being a ML catcher option. What I object to is the Twins not giving him an opportunity!

I think grabbing Cargaya on a flier is a great idea! I've read he's had a back issue of some sort recently. Is that part of the reason for the sudden disappearance of his bat? Is there more to it? Does he need to make adjustments? Has he just been exposed as a poor hitting bat once he reached the upper levels? I don't have the answers. But based on his earlier numbers and reportedly solid defense, he's worth working with for 2025 to see if he can take another step.

While I really applaud most of what the FO has done since they've been in charge, my biggest complaint has been sticking with poor performing players too long instead of looking internally at options. I despise picking on individuals, BUT, an injured and poor performing Farmer and a generally bad Margot in every way except for a couple decent months against LHP instead of giving Helman and Keirsey an actual opportunity to see if they could do better is organizational malpractice as far as I'm concerned. The same with Camargo. Why in hell wasn't he allowed to start a few games and just SEE what he looked like when the opportunity presented itself? That's what you DO when you have the "next man up". How else do you ever find out what you may, or may not, have in your system?

But in NO WAY does Cartaya make Vazquez suddenly more of a trade target. That's preposterous. He's not ready for ML duty at this point. 

What he DOES do is provide encouragement for 2026 if his back is good and the Twins can help him find his hit tool again. IF the Twins move Vazquez, it's to clear all of his contract, maybe with a sweetener, or most of his contract. They would then sign someone like Diaz or McCann or Grandal on a cheap deal and spend any savings on a LHRP or RHOF type of player.

Cartaya is a flier with a potential for the future if his previously good bat at lower levels can be fixed. It's a smart move. But in NO WAY does he affect the 2025 team or any future moves.

 

Posted
9 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Cartaya is two years younger than Camargo and was a top prospect as a 21-year-old. I guess that all goes into pedigree and proves nothing, but maybe it suggests upside. It's pretty hard to make an "apples to apples" comparison of the two. They are different ages and played with different organizations last year. Camargo's 2024 numbers are very unimpressive on their face, but then so are Cartaya's. 

There is nothing I see to suggest that either guy is ready to hold even a backup catcher role for the Twins at this point, but non-prospects can become prospects (ask Eeles and Keirsey Jr.). To the original post, it's pretty  reckless to trade a catcher who has caught 50% of the innings in each of the last two years when there isn't a backup. 

We're in agreement.  But why does everyone focus on Camargo having a poor 2024 when he had a very good 2023? As well as a good 2022 when his bat started to come around?

He had a .826 OPS for St Paul in 2023 with 21 HR. How soon people forget huh? And while I simply have NO WAY to compare how good, bad, better either catcher is defensively, the numbers show Camargo with a MILB career CS % of 31 vs 20% for Cartaya. Maybe Cartaya is just better blocking the plate and calling a game. Who knows? But he sure hasn't hit like Camargo in the upper levels, and he sure hasn't thrown like Camargo has.

Ironic isn't it that both came from the Dodgers organization. 

One is way more proven, but the team who traded for him won't give him a chance to show what he can do. And we're debating the value of a younger player who's less proven as a viable option. And we're supposed to expect that our potential #4 catching option should induce the Twins to make a move. (Shudder).

I have to wonder, if Cossetti or Cardenas suddenly rebounds in 2025, are we having a different discussion?

Posted

Jeffers.  We need to trade our only catcher who can hit.  It's a bonus he's a better defensive catcher than Vazquez, and we certainly don't deserve that.  How else can we make the Twins worse?  Is that the goal?

If Cartaya were anything at all, the Dodgers wouldn't have let him go, or a team would have given something for him.  So how does he affect anything?  The Twins need a third catcher when they trade Vazquez.  If they don't trade Vazquez because they suddenly think they have money, I'd guess Cartaya or Camargo gets DFA'd.  Jeffers is a future trade chip when the Twins are bad and he is good, which is possible midseason and would be optimal timing on return if the Twins aren't winning.

Posted

Tradijng Vasquez without a viable backup will lead the new owners to roll some heads in the FO. What a way to sabotage the team.  Who would want to lose their job by making that move? If folks want to watch AAA baseball players then go watch the Saints play.

Posted

Camargo is MiLB roster filler. He was only tendered because of the extreme risk of caused by the Twins' desperate catching situation.

Cartaya is regarded as a solid defensive catcher, and he's is still 23 so a full write off is a bit aggressive. Since he plays catcher, he doesn't need to hit well to hold a backup spot down, and at age 22 last year, he was solid in AA. .236/.354/.379 OPS .733 wRC+ 111, though it came with a .327 BABIP. Once promoted to AAA, Cartaya's numbers dropped off badly, but the BABIP being at .262 suggests there may have been some bad luck involved, especially considering the high line drive rate. Then again, way too many pop ups. It's worth noting his K rate actually tightened slightly going from AA (29%) to AAA (27%). His mixed AA/AAA stats wind up at .221/.323/.363 OPS .686 wRC+ 85. Not sure if the Twins will be able to improve something. The O-Swing and Z-Swing rates are good, but the contact rate on the O-Swing is poor so it's possible Cartaya needs a swing adjustment to keep his bat flatter through the strike zone.

I don't agree with labeling Gasper as a Kyle Farmer level catching asset since he was originally a catcher in college and has continued to play there primarily. I remember when Mitch Garver was written off only to put in some effort to turn himself into an average backstop. Gasper's biggest issue is going to be whether or not he can learn to swing the bat occasionally, which are issues Larnach and Julien have both struggled with. Gasper isn't going to get a lot of opportunity given his age and spurious status as a prospect. Gasper is comparable to DaShawn Keirsey, Jr. here in prospect status land.

Christian Vazquez is not an MLB caliber catcher. Not sure how much worse people think the Twins' depth options could really be here...

Posted

I really don't think one predicates the other.  We all know the organization has almost no catching depth.  The Cartaya trade, IMO, is to pair him with Camargo at AAA and improve that depth.  Not saying Vazquez won't be dealt...but I'm not sure that's why Cartaya was acquired.

Posted

Wasn't Camargo one of our top 30 prospects not too long ago? I don't understand all the hate and speculation that he's a throwaway DFA candidate soon. Isn't he a good hitter, at least in AAA? Maybe if he actually got a chance to play in the bigs during his next call up, rather than warm the bench, he'd surprise us. Hope to see how he does behind the plate in spring training.

Posted
16 hours ago, High heat said:

Jair Camargo isn't a viable MLB catcher and shouldn't be viewed as anything more than organizational depth.

 

How did you come to this conclusion?  He has a cannon for an arm, I know he is a big dude and doesn’t move great behind the plate.  In ‘23 he hit 23 HR at AAA and put up power number after getting healthy last season.  

In ‘24 he hit .212 at AAA…….he struck out 94 times in 317 PA’s. No reason to act like he’s a real prospect for the Show.

Posted
15 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

The Cartaya acquisition does nothing to move the needle on the conversation about the Vazquez/ Jeffers debate. So far we don't even have a 3rd catcher much less a backup catcher. IMO we ideally need 2 young promising MLB-ready catchers (we have none) to be mentored so they can be ready to take over for when both Vazquez & Jeffers are gone. It'll be a big mistake to extend Jeffers to a ridiculous contact that he doesn't deserve just because it'd be the easy thing to do. That'll come back & bite us hard & be an albatross & a sore spot at a premium position. Any catcher we obtain would have to super achieve, be able to hit the ground running & handle the majority of the innings, to make up for the inferiority of Jeffers if we extend him & that's not fair for any catcher.

It'll be a lot easier to trade Jeffers than Vazquez, We can trade Jeffers for a 2nd promising MLB-ready catcher, Vazquez we can't & we have to pay about 1/2 his contract. Vazquez can mentor these young catchers. That is the best case scenario. The worst case scenario. we trade Vazquez, we are stuck with backup catcher Jeffers, floudering AAAA catcher Camargo, AAA catcher Cartaya & AAA partime catcher Gasper trying to stop the bleeding. Then Twins extend Jeffers to an exhorbant contract & we are stuck with Jeffers & his contract for many years at this premium position. Blocking any chance for the Twins to advance into the postseason no matter how great we are everywhere else.

 

15 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

The Cartaya acquisition does nothing to move the needle on the conversation about the Vazquez/ Jeffers debate. So far we don't even have a 3rd catcher much less a backup catcher. IMO we ideally need 2 young promising MLB-ready catchers (we have none) to be mentored so they can be ready to take over for when both Vazquez & Jeffers are gone. It'll be a big mistake to extend Jeffers to a ridiculous contact that he doesn't deserve just because it'd be the easy thing to do. That'll come back & bite us hard & be an albatross & a sore spot at a premium position. Any catcher we obtain would have to super achieve, be able to hit the ground running & handle the majority of the innings, to make up for the inferiority of Jeffers if we extend him & that's not fair for any catcher.

It'll be a lot easier to trade Jeffers than Vazquez, We can trade Jeffers for a 2nd promising MLB-ready catcher, Vazquez we can't & we have to pay about 1/2 his contract. Vazquez can mentor these young catchers. That is the best case scenario. The worst case scenario. we trade Vazquez, we are stuck with backup catcher Jeffers, floudering AAAA catcher Camargo, AAA catcher Cartaya & AAA partime catcher Gasper trying to stop the bleeding. Then Twins extend Jeffers to an exhorbant contract & we are stuck with Jeffers & his contract for many years at this premium position. Blocking any chance for the Twins to advance into the postseason no matter how great we are everywhere else.

It depends on the $$ amount and years of for a Jeffers extension.  If it's reasonable I definitely would consider it. I have a higher opinion that Jeffers is a viable starting catcher.  He will be 28 years old for upcoming season.  He had a strong 1st half last year.  I think he wore down in the 2nd half.  He and the Twins coaching staff need to figure out how to improve his conditioning for this season.    I, Also, would put Cartaya in the category of promising, young catcher too.  Player development is rarely linear.  He struggled last year with the bat, but he is young and still owns the abilities that made him a top prospect.  Really, like the trade for the Twins.  If they don't need to dump salary, then keeping Vazuez for one more year has a backup makes sense.  If they do, then definitely need to try and move him.  I would definitely like them to add decent right-handed bat OF and, or left-handed reliever.  Austin Hays is the outfielder I like.  

Posted
13 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Camargo is MiLB roster filler. He was only tendered because of the extreme risk of caused by the Twins' desperate catching situation.

Cartaya is regarded as a solid defensive catcher, and he's is still 23 so a full write off is a bit aggressive. Since he plays catcher, he doesn't need to hit well to hold a backup spot down, and at age 22 last year, he was solid in AA. .236/.354/.379 OPS .733 wRC+ 111, though it came with a .327 BABIP. Once promoted to AAA, Cartaya's numbers dropped off badly, but the BABIP being at .262 suggests there may have been some bad luck involved, especially considering the high line drive rate. Then again, way too many pop ups. It's worth noting his K rate actually tightened slightly going from AA (29%) to AAA (27%). His mixed AA/AAA stats wind up at .221/.323/.363 OPS .686 wRC+ 85. Not sure if the Twins will be able to improve something. The O-Swing and Z-Swing rates are good, but the contact rate on the O-Swing is poor so it's possible Cartaya needs a swing adjustment to keep his bat flatter through the strike zone.

I don't agree with labeling Gasper as a Kyle Farmer level catching asset since he was originally a catcher in college and has continued to play there primarily. I remember when Mitch Garver was written off only to put in some effort to turn himself into an average backstop. Gasper's biggest issue is going to be whether or not he can learn to swing the bat occasionally, which are issues Larnach and Julien have both struggled with. Gasper isn't going to get a lot of opportunity given his age and spurious status as a prospect. Gasper is comparable to DaShawn Keirsey, Jr. here in prospect status land.

Christian Vazquez is not an MLB caliber catcher. Not sure how much worse people think the Twins' depth options could really be here...

I think your point about Vazquez mirrors mine.  His hitting is terrible.  Camargo and Cartaya are probably not as big a drop off in hitting (from Vazquez) as we think.  I definitely don't want the Twins to trade Jeffers and I don't really care if Vazquez is with the Twins.  If somehow the Twins find a sucker to take his salary without having to give up a good prospect, then it ought to free up money for a productive player.

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