MLBTR Top Trade Candidates: Christian Vazquez & Chris Paddack

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.

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

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. 

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.

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.

5 hours ago, DJL44 said:

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

So 2-3 years?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Viva la Tortuga!  🐢 

Bring back Willians Astudillo as backup C and utility man. 
 

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