Minnesota Twins 2025 Position Analysis: Catcher

[jmlease1]

My only really issue with Christian Vazquez as a backup is that the self-imposed payroll limitations of ownership make his salary problematic and of better use elsewhere. So few catchers in MLB are league average or better hitters these days that a quality receiver who isn't dreadful at the plate is a pretty good option as a backup. Of course, Vazquez started out the season (despite reporting in the "best shape of his life") so horrifically that hot streaks in July & August still couldn't bring him up to par. And he, like most of the position players, was awful down the stretch. (.413 OPS in Sept/Oct! eek.) If he can be around his career average OPS+ (81), he'll be a useful backup. If he can't, then we'll be well rid of him and his salary in 2026, even with his solid defense and ability to work with a pitching staff.

Jeffers is the real key. The expectations were high after such an excellent 2023, and when he was good in 2024 he was very very good...but when he was bad he was rotten. he had a slump in June, and fought his way out of his, but was cooked in Sept/Oct like so many on the roster. Giving him that much DH time probably wasn't really worth it. Hopefully he can catch 85-95 games, and add in maybe another 5-10 at DH against LHP (he did a nice job smacking LHP around again).

there's no real replacement for Jeffers in sight (I did like the Cartaya acquisition; if they can get him right he might be a real contributor in the future, but that's a bit of a lottery ticket) so they need him to be productive.

[GNXman]

Jeffers, along with several other Twins everyday players, need to step up this season and display their previous promise. Otherwise its gonna be along year...