Should Minnesota Twins Buy Low on Red Sox's Demoted Catcher?

Boston has one of the worst catching unit in the MLB. I wouldn't even think about their rejects. Vazquez is a much better catcher than Wong. The $ saved isn't worth the wild gamble on Wong. The focus should be making the team better not Pohlads saving $.

I commend you for addressing this problem. But I'm looking for a much better option, more of the catcher of the future.

Acquiring Wong would seem to be a nightmare scenario, a streaky fly by night non-MLB viable catcher that won't be able to hold his own.  If he can't professionally hit & catch by now then leave him where he lies. Goodness gracious sakes alive. Please sign a game ready pro & not someone from the scrap heap.

They'll throw Gasper in there first, before they'd even think about a trade. 

Let's put it this way......if the Red Sox wanted to straight up trade Wong for Cardenas, Winkels, or Gasper I feel the Twins are better off declining.  While they may each have their shortcomings, they do to me each have a glimpse of a promise of contributing at the big league level.  

I am not convinced that is the case with Wong.

Sorry, ex-Red Sox catching sort of leaves a bad taste in my mouth right now.

By the way, it should be noted that the Twins made a good call on letting go of Chris Williams, part time catcher who spent several seasons in Saint Paul.  He has performed horribly for the Mets at Syracuse and is presently not active and on their "development list".  

1 hour ago, sun said:

Acquiring Wong would seem to be a nightmare scenario, a streaky fly by night non-MLB viable catcher that won't be able to hold his own.  If he can't professionally hit & catch by now then leave him where he lies. Goodness gracious sakes alive. Please sign a game ready pro & not someone from the scrap heap.

I would not be so quick to dismiss acquiring Wong. He is coming back from injury and has had minimal playing time since Narvaez has taken the job. He is coming off a season where he slashed 280/333/425 with an OPS+ of 112 as the primary Red Sox catcher (106 games). He had 13 HR, 52 RBI, and 8 SB. He is currently making $790 thousand this season. Compare that to who most Twins fans feel is the Twins best-hitting catcher, Ryan Jeffers. Last season, Jeffers caught 86 games with a slash line of 226/300/432 with an OPS+ of 103. He had 21 HR, 64 RBI, and 3 SB. He is currently making about $4.5 million dollars this season. Last year, both Wong and Jeffers were below average defensively. 

Cody points out that the Red Sox have two former big league catchers stashed at AAA that can replace Wong, while the Twins have an empty organizational cupboard when it comes to catchers. The Twins have been lucky (some would say blessed) to have been able to field two healthy catchers that have evenly split the playing time the past couple of years, but that luck could run out at any time, and they will certainly have to address what to do at the catching position next year. Being able to acquire Wong for a minimal investment when his numbers are down and option him to St. Paul for regular playing time as an insurance policy for the rest of this year and possibly for the future is exactly the kind of move the Twins should consider. 

2 hours ago, CRF said:

They'll throw Gasper in there first, before they'd even think about a trade. 

Great idea. We will be watching the running of the bulls by other teams if he’s behind the plate.

1 minute ago, Doc Lenz said:

Great idea. We will be watching the running of the bulls by other teams if he’s behind the plate.

Could have traded Alcala for Wong.

Trading for Wong is simply a cash considerations type move. Meh...

With as bad as he is (on top of 2026 C'ing FA market), I'd almost take Vasquez back at $1 - $1.5. You're not going to pay for a #2 and if it's between him and dudes like an Austin Hedges...not gracias. It could be worse, you could have a no-glove C/DH like Garver for another (Player Option) $12M like Seattle does. Garver would be foolish not to opt-in.  

Unless Cartaya/Camargo improve greatly there aren't many options. The Twins have (kinda) invested in the position, but not at the premium level. I would not want to invest big into a FA as it seems like the better move is to keep swinging (and missing) and hope you can draft/develop a future stud like the Royals (Mitchell, Jensen, Ramirez) and the Cards (Crooks, Bernal, Rodriguez, Campos).

Triple slash numbers can be very deceiving in a single season sample. I would not call last season a break out. The only change compared to this season his batted balls found holes. His xBA, xSLG and xwOBA are very close to the same. In fact his expected number are better in 2025 than 2024.

He has been the same hitter this year as last but his BABIP fell from .348 to .200. I don’t think it is buying low. It is the same hitter. No one should have believed last year’s numbers were sustainable. The same is true for this year. His ability is somewhere in between, His preseason projection of a wRC+ in the 80s seems reasonable. He is 29. Is a wRC+ in the 80s matched with his defense worth investing in? Maybe. A wRC+ in the 80s is better than Vazquez. I just don’t think it is good enough. They absolutely shouldn’t take him thinking they can get the 2024 numbers out of him. That was a mirage.

Ask the Dodgers what it would take for Dalton Rushing. Start with Duran and E-rod, and add another top 5 prospect not named Jenkins or Keashall and they may just listen.

Intellectually, it would make some sense…for a low price.

Emotionally, it’s depressing to even have to consider it.

Sure!!!!

Let's get Mike Piazza.  Except for the bat - Piazza's bat is guaranteed better today than Wong's. 

Heck, he's rested, and might be better behind the plate!

F@#k it, sign Piazza as next year's backup.

We don't need another catcher who will struggle to hit .200.....