The Twins have jumped into a fast-moving catching market, reportedly agreeing to terms with Christian Vázquez on a three-year contract. The deal, which is pending a physical, will guarantee him $30MM. Vázquez is represented by MDR Sports Management.
A longtime member of the Red Sox, Vázquez now changes uniforms for the second time in five months. Boston dealt him to the Astros at this past summer’s trade deadline, bringing back prospects Wilyer Abreu and Enmanuel Valdez for the final half-season before he hit free agency. That left Vázquez in an unfamiliar role splitting time with Martín Maldonado, but it positioned him to secure his second World Series title.
Vázquez, 32, is one of the better all-around catchers in the game. A light-hitting defensive specialist for his first few seasons, the Puerto Rico native has taken a step forward with the bat over the past four years. He hit .276/.320/.477 in 521 plate appearances in 2019, popping a career-best 23 home runs. Vázquez hasn’t replicated that kind of power outside a season with perhaps the liveliest ball the league has ever used, never reaching double digit longballs in another season. Still, he’s been an adequate hitter in two of the past three years. Vázquez stumbled to a .258/.308/.352 mark in 2021, but he was an above-average hitter during the abbreviated 2020 campaign and roughly league average this past season.
Going back to the start of 2019, he owns a .271/.318/.416 line in slightly more than 1600 plate appearances. That’s five percentage points below league average overall, by measure of wRC+, but it’s above par for a catcher. Backstops have a cumulative .232/.304/.390 mark over that stretch. Vázquez doesn’t draw many walks and, 2019 aside, rarely hits for power. His high-contact approach differentiates him from most of his positional peers, as he owns the fifth-lowest strikeout percentage among catchers (minimum 750 plate appearances) since the start of 2019.
The 2022 season was generally par for the course. Among 29 catchers with 300+ trips to the dish, he had the fourth-lowest strikeout rate (16.2%) and fourth-best rate of contact per swing (85.1%). Overall, Vázquez posted a .274/.315/.399 line in 119 games. He carried an impressive .282/.327/.432 mark with the Red Sox before the trade but stumbled to a .250/.278/.308 showing in 35 regular season games as an Astro. Vázquez also did very little offensively in his six-game playoff showing.
The Twins clearly aren’t deterred by that slow finish to the year. That came in an unfamiliar role dividing his reps with Maldonado, and Minnesota presumably anticipates he’ll more closely approximate his production from his time in Boston moving forward. Offense is only part of the story and Vázquez has an excellent reputation with the glove.
For his career, Vázquez has nabbed just under 34% of attempted basestealers. He had a more modest 27.1% mark this year, but that’s still narrowly above the roughly 25% league average. Statcast also credits him with a better than average arm, placing him 20th among 73 catchers with 10+ throws in pop time (average time to throw to second base). Vázquez consistently draws strong grades from public pitch framing metrics. Pair strong receiving with his ability to control the running game, he’s been rated as an above-average catcher by measure of Defensive Runs Saved in all but one season of his career. DRS pegged him 11 runs above par in 2022 and has rated him as 51 runs above average over his eight years in the majors.
That wealth of experience calling games certainly added to Vázquez’s appeal to the Minnesota front office. The Twins have young backstop Ryan Jeffers on hand already. The 25-year-old will continue to see a fair amount of run at Target Field, but president of baseball operations Derek Falvey and GM Thad Levine have each spoken of a desire to add another starting-caliber catcher to pair with Jeffers. They’ve done just that, leaving manager Rocco Baldelli to decide how to divvy up playing time.
Jeffers, a right-handed hitter, has been far better against lefty pitching (.263/.344/.450) than same-handed opponents (.185/.256/.361) through his first couple MLB campaigns. Vázquez also hits right-handed and is better against southpaws, but his career splits aren’t so drastic. He has a .257/.309/.422 line against lefty arms and a .263/.310/.372 mark against right-handers. Falvey has already suggested the Twins don’t plan to relegate Jeffers solely to the small side of a platoon, but the presence of a more balanced hitter in Vázquez gives Baldelli some more flexibility in matching up against opposing pitchers.
It’s the first meaningful dip into free agency for Minnesota this offseason. Vázquez’s contract lands right in line with MLBTR’s prediction of $27MM over three years. The specific financial breakdown hasn’t yet been reported, but an even distribution of $10MM annually would bring Minnesota’s 2023 payroll around $107MM, in the estimation of Roster Resource. There’s a fair amount of room before getting to this past season’s approximate $134MM mark, and the Twins surely aren’t finished. Addressing shortstop — where the organization awaits Carlos Correa’s decision — is the big question, but the Twins also could stand to upgrade both areas of the pitching staff (especially the bullpen) and potentially shake up their outfield.
Vázquez’s signing follows last week’s five-year agreement between the Cardinals and Willson Contreras and this afternoon’s blockbuster that sent Sean Murphy to Atlanta. As a result, the catching market is drying up quickly. The Blue Jays can still dangle one of their three backstops, with Danny Jansen seemingly the most likely to move. Free agency is without many obvious solutions at this point, with glove-first players like Austin Hedges, Tucker Barnhart, Roberto Pérez and Mike Zunino (the latter two of whom saw their 2022 seasons cut short by surgery) among the options.
Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported Vázquez was making progress on a deal with an unknown team. Jon Heyman of the New York Post first reported the backstop was in agreement with the Twins. Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe reported it was a three-year contract, while Ted Schwerzler of Twins Daily was first to report the $30MM guarantee.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Told ya
Yep.
Cubbies swung and missed again!
Better bring back Randy Hundley.
Vasquez and Gomes had similar WAR from 2020-2022. For catchers, what matters is defense, handling pitchers, pitch-framing until strikes/balls are automated, throwing out runners, etc. I would rather have either of them than Willson Contreras behind the plate. Fond of Willson because we won in 2016, but he is a league average DH and a bat first weak defense catcher. Of course, Murphy would have been an upgrade, but the cost was rather high.
And all that mystery for $10 Million a year..That’s .nothing to brag about !! if Wilson Contreras got $68 M in five, Vazquez deserved at least $40M for 3 years
Willson Contreras got $87.5 million over 5 years, not $68 million.
Again for these prices I’m more than happy the Cubs stayed away. The prices for Murphy, Vasquez and Contreras were all tremendously inflated. This deal smacks of the Twins just feeling they had to do SOMETHING, Even if it was bad. They should call this off season- The year we all got something we really didn’t need because we had no chance last year. It’s like all the owners and GM’s had this itch in their pants they couldn’t scratch for 2 years.
Both Contreras brothers are over rated.
Somewhat ironic that a White Sox fan would be trolling the Cubs about catchers (only one team has the burden of Grandal—the highest paid player in White Sox history). Especially on a story about a divisional rival getting better.
But then again, nothing ironic about a Sox fan being more concerned about the Cubs than the Twins.
Definitely agree on the 2nd paragraph – as Sox fans we should be more concerned with the Twins getting better, which this does. But if you are referencing Grandal, he earned every penny and more his first 2 years of the contract, with a WAR of close to 5 in about 140 Gs between 20 and 21 (and 155 OPS+).
He was horrifically bad last year, but if he bounces back to even 100 OPS+ he was worth the contract.
Grandal was injured last year.
He’a currently working out with the Blackhawks.
Grandal will come back stronger than ever for 2023 season.
I can’t wait to see how well those guys signing 10+ year contracts earn their money in the last 25% years of their contracts.
Once Twins lose Correa they won’t be better by adding this C.
Other than Judge, all those contracts are in the NL. Major implications in 5-7 years when the players decline.
Despite all these nonsense OOPS and WAR numbers, My eyes tell me that grandal has been terrible the last TWO seasons. Even in his first year with Sox, James McCann caught more games than grandal.
Figures. He’s working out with another team that can’t win. But I do love me Blackhawks.
lol – The eyeball test – the ultimate answer for the clown who doesn’t understand data. Happens with the NCAA tourney selection too. I know that Kansas is ranked 15th by the computers, but my EYEBALLS tell me they are a 1 seed (i.e. because they can run and jump).
@#1soxfan: I bet you wish you wouldn’t have to see Grandal behind the plate for half your games in 2023! But guess what, you will ha ha ha.
I bet you’d prefer PJ Higgins – if you were honest.
Wait, is that seriously a White Sox troll? Hahahaha… that’s a thing? I’d literally give up baseball and watch soccer for the rest of my life before I’d be a White Sox fan. Their fans are going crazy on Twitter about how inept their front office is, how cheap their owner is how their supposed “window” was closed before it even opened… Hahaha…
FACT – The White Sox have won 3 Playoff series…. THREE in the last 105 years (all 3 were in ‘05) That’s beyond embarrassing.
Wait, who have they signed this year? How about EVER? The last star free agent they signed in his prime was Albert (Joey) Belle and dude was literally crazy.
A White Sox fan troll…. Haha, this just made my night. I now believe in Big Foot. I would be embarrassed to troll a minor league team if I was a White Sox fan.
Just glad we’re not signing Heyward checks this year too..
Gotta admit though that Thomas Belle 3/4 was an awesome duo
Not a fan of either team, but the Cubs have won exactly one (1) pennant/WS since 1946 and had a nice little 4 year run but outside of that have been a dog poo team for like 70 years. No need to trash a WSox fan when you’re always known as the loveable losers.
Hey coup——just to set the facts straight the White Sox have won ONE World Series in the last 115 seasons and 2005 is the ONLY year in that span that they even won a playoff series. EVERY other team in baseball has had multiple season of winning at least two series. The White Sox stand alone when it comes to non-winning.
There are lovable losers and then there are losers that just nobody cares about.
You’re a troll, go away. First off, it was a 6 year run, 2015 – 2020. Second, “no need to trash a WSox fan”? Really – are you incapable of reading? He literally started it! smh
You’ve both won relatively recently. The past is irrelevant. You both sucked last year. White Sox couldn’t win the easiest division imaginable. Cubs couldn’t win period. You can’t make fun of the other from a position of failure yourself.
1969, 1984, 1989, 1998, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020 were not dog poo years…
Both teams fans shouldn’t talk about the other. Neither team has won much. Both fan bases hate their owner and gm.
Rather be a cubs fan though. #1 reason Wrigley. Better gm that is building a nice farm system. Seems they will spend more money if necessary.
Hate to tell you boxer but the Cubs are still paying Heyward’s salary this year. Minus whatever he gets with the Dodgers which isn’t much.
The fans who have stuck with a team through all the hard times should be commended, not called out. It’s easy to like a juggernaut team making the NLCS yearly but there can be no doubt of a suffering fans love for the team they continued to watch through years of WS drought. I’m not saying one should be glued to the TV or buying season tickets for a 60 win team tho. I started watching braves in 2003 and they never won a playoff series my entire fandom until recently. And I’m spoiled. Look at Mariners fans, for instance. And it’s not like you can really brag about your favorite team like you have done something besides root for them.
Soccer is AWESOME!!!!
A HOFer and one that should be in the HOF.
I LOVED 1969!!! I’ll always be a Mets fan because of that season.
At least they didn’t swing and miss on their last rebuild like the Sox have done so far.
Let Randy a couple years ago. He’s 50 years past his prime.
What did u “let” Randy do?
@#1WhiteSoxFan, The Sox haven’t done jack squat besides signing Clevinger and letting Abreu walk. I say as one of their fans that this off season has left a lot to be desired so far.
Hahn not done yet!
Season starts in March, not next week.
Hahn is working on a 6-team trade. Those things take time.
Maybe one of the 6 teams will be the lowly Cubbies so Hahn can fleece them again!
Put your money down on Cease to win Cy Young Award and Eloy to hit 40+ HRs in 2023.
Hey, don’t forget Reyes. He’s going to take us to the WS next season.
Damn, how could I forget that splashy signing lol. Seriously though, Daulton Varsho is a player they should be pursuing. Probably won’t happen though.
This clearly means that Correa is going to San Francisco.
Or the Dodgers
A’s Fan, you don’t read much huh?
Correa won’t go to the dodgers, dodgers FO is too worried that the fanbase still hates Correa for the Astros scandal.
Then again, dodger fans are all hypocrites, so who knows
The Dodgers literally said they’re not signing Correa because of the backlash from the cheating.
Huh? Just because Vaz signed?
You have to read between the lines.
they said this last week.
World series here we come
Only if you buy tickets!
Good for the Twins. I’ve always liked them. First Kirby Puckett then Torii Hunter. Both were a joy to watch.
Buxton is also amazing to watch just a shame he can’t stay healthy.
Agreed
And before that? The great Rod Carew.
Carew was before my time. But I have met the man and it was incredible. Carew was revered in room full of guys like Salmon, Anderson, Abbott, and Joyner.
Yup like I said , surprise team pounces leaving mystery team and unknown team out.
007, Padres made him a significantly longer and lucrative offer but it was turned down..
Trea T said something interesting Re San Diego vs Philly. As a sports fan he wants to go to Flyers games , 76ers , Eagles , said can’t go do that in SD. No teams lol
If he said that, I would be surprised. You can fly anywhere you want to see games with an extra $42 million.
But do want to fly to see every game when u have season tickets , what a hassle, btw he said it at the press conference signing. You can utube
SD was going to let him + friends & family use the company jet (no questions asked) to go to whichever sporting events he desired but he still turned them down.
Pads: just to clarify. In no way am I dissing San Diego. Beautiful city. Many folks roils live to live in San Diego. I’m just relaying what Trea said was one of the factors important to him. Loves the Flyers
You are not attending many games during the MLB regular season. Players arrive at the park between 10-11 am for night games and leave around 11,pm. They get 1 day off per week if they are lucky.
If you an MLB player you can live anywhere you want in the offseason. You like other sports, buy a house in another city with multiple teams and go to all the games you want from November to February 15th.
So that statement doesn’t make any sense. I also cannot find him quoted as saying that. I listened to the presser and he doesn’t say that.
Then u missed it. It was very plain , broadcast live on mlb. Sure others saw it too.
He and his wife hated LA and the west coast, even dodgers writers said something along those lines
Lol Ditto 007.
so he fits the ugly coast.
@Pads Fans: it’s not about money, it’s about time. No one wants to spend an hour or more flying somewhere every time they want to catch a game.
Hahaha Aragon which is the ugly coast?
Alcohol and beautiful women make flying fun. Much more fun than a sporting event. Even if he is a good boy he could take a nap, conduct business, watch a movie, read.
I don’t feel like Vazquez moves the needle for that team. Yeah, he’s a good defender, but he’s average at best with the bat. They need a lot more help.
Average at best is pretty valuable for a catcher though.
He’s better than average. In the ALC, he’ll be a superstar.
I don’t watch the twins. How does their park play? Vazquez is an amazing defender, but his offense was pretty bad at parks that weren’t hitter friendly
Neutral to slightly pitcher friendly
In a follow up reply to someone it sounded like they were working on multiple things today (felt like he was implying two to three moves). But still can’t take him seriously, ever.
For some reason this posted as a reply up here instead of to the person I clicked reply to…
He is 10% above average with the bat compared to other catchers. Don’t compare catchers to other position players.
Uh ok because this means they’re done?!?
The Correa and Rondon questions still await the Twins Hot Stove League.
I am not sure they will land either.
agreed hooks, however if we can go after one, I’d prefer Rodon. Twins have a lot of years of decent bats and dumpster fishing for pitching with not much success. With a number of half decent pitchers coming back, adding an ace would be a big change, at least try something new.
Yes, but “a lot” more help begins with with bringing in help to upgrade an area where they were not good at all in 2022. Rating catchers and their defensive contributions is not easy, but adding Vazquez will add a few wins to the Twins.
Didn’t see this one coming, good for the Twins though
“We need more than 2 playable catchers”
-MLB teams
Tomorrows headlines: Dodgers sign Christian Vazquez.
Nice. I figured he would go somewhere he is main catcher. So either Jays catchers or Barnhart or Hedges left for catching for teams in need.
Heyman you are the man!
Sounds like it was down to the twins and the padres. Twins needed him more.
Padres offered more money but Vasquez turned them down.
I heard is was 27 years and 562m plus a golden catching helmet.
Minneapolis for the disco and Jucy Lucy. What more do you need?
Really?
The Twins think Vazquez would be better catching for them then Gary Sanchez?
Hard to believe.
The word “think” and Twins leadership don’t mesh. Sanchez kinda got well with the Twins. They’ll make the mvp position minimum wage and throw the truck at an average SS.
Haha let’s write the most blantantly false words I can think of. Calling Carlos Correa an average shortstop made me literally laugh out loud.
Sanchez got well with the Twins? An 89 OPS+ and 0.9 rWAR was one of the worst seasons of his career. He hasn’t been well since 2019.
My prediction is Sanchez signs with the Red Sox.
Lord I hope not.
1. Twins “Ace” Sonny Gray does not like pitching to Gary Sanchez.
2. Sanchez BA in 2022- .205 HR 16
Career BA ..225
Vasquez BA in 2022- .274 HR 9
Career BA ..261
Vasquez is the better defender.
I can see why the Twins prefer Vasquez over Sanchez.
Gary will be lucky to get half the AAV that Vazquez. Even with the ever rising prices tha offseason
To now it’s down to Houston, white sox, Miami, Zona and the Padres that could use a catcher. Wonder who will trade with the bluejays
Guardians!
Almost split a guy from laughing when I read the wsox we’re in the running! Hey, Reinsdorf! FAs want money!
Padres have 2 catchers.
I know they have two catchers but there not the best bats are they? The Padres have gone allbin and that’s really the only place they can make nice improvement. Jays would love Grisham or cronnenworth
I could see Grisham being traded. Clearly the padres are interested in a catcher though it isn’t a huge need.
Don’t see cronenworth being moved because the padres need lefty bats.
Pirates don’t have a catcher on their roster. They aren’t using endy. Not that they will outbid many teams for one. But no team is more desperate for one.
what do you want to bet they sit on the waiver wire for every backstop should the remaining free agents not accept a low ball offer?
They will get whatever free agent nobody else wants. If perez ever gets healthy he will be back. Either sign someone else to minor league deal until a 40 man spot is available. Or what you said always keeping eye on waiver wire. I expect them to actually sign at least a starter though.
The Cubs are pathetic. Jed and Tom are losers.
@chris Milwaukee:Did you really think the cubs were gonna sign Vazquez. Like all of the top FAs, they want to go to a contender, not a rebuilding team. Now the Twins will win the division and get swept by the Yankees in the POs.
The Twins are no more a contender than the Cubs are.
Fly the “L” flags, losers!
Yet Jed and Tom aren’t on a internet comment section calling total strangers losers.
Solid pickup. Nicely done, Twinkies
Good for the twins I was hoping the Cardinals was going to get him instead of conteras.
How much do you think the contract will be? Maybe 3 years 36 million?
3 yr – $27-30 mil is my guess
I saw 3/$30m
3/30 my guess
I have a weird suspicion that the Jays and Cleveland hook up in a trade for Kirk. Just a feeling but we will see. Kirk is the kind of high obp more walks than strikeouts player they love. He will fit in well with Naylor as well.
Make it happen Cleveland.
I would love to see Kirk on the Guardians, but I’m just not sure we match up all that well. The Jays need left handed hitting major league outfielders and starting pitchers. We have Plesac and Civale available but I don’t think that gets the job done.
Guardians might be ok with grabbing a veteran to bring Bo along. Someone like a healthy ( don’t know) Zunino would be a good signing
They must have lost confidence in Jeffey. Granted, he can’t throw and he isn’t showing great progress in the plate discipline department….but still young for a catcher, just seems odd to sign a guy like Vazquez…you’d expect to play everyday as a solid .270-.280 hitter and great behind the plate. I don’t think he would have signed if they told him he’d be splitting time with Ryan Jeffers
Some chat last few days here in TO they Jays interested in Jeffers and or Kepler, if they get Kepler, he and Kiermaier can chill at the Bratwurst stand
The Guardians were a moderate 3rd…
Correction: a very close 2nd
Dbacks have 3 catchers on their 40 man roster. I don’t think any of the Jays 3 backup catchers are enough of an improvement to warrant a significant trade package. Jays should definitely Not expect one of the 4 Dback stud CF in exchange for a backup catcher. However, if Jays package Romano with one of those catchers, they might get the Dbacks attention?
The Jays backup catchers include Gabby Moreno. Who is the top prospect in baseball at the position. Or at least was at one point last year. Kid rakes.
Jays are aiming for the World Series, no way they trade Romano at this point in the window.
Good pickup for the Twins. Now for Correa.
Great get at a cheap price.
Bloom fumbles another free agent signing, anyone surprised?
No, he was never coming back.
So you think Vazquez is worth $30M/3? I thought most fans didn’t care for him that much. I liked him well enough, but thought he was worth more like $16M/2.
Nah. No one outside of the New England area including the ESPN Studios cares about the Red Sox. I’m tired of 4 or 5 Sunday night telecasts being Yankees vs BoSox.
Do the Jays now corner the catching market? They need to be calling the D-backs about Varsho soon!
Twins got better today.
@SupremeZeus; indeed. Getting strong up the middle defensively. Buxton, now Vazquez, next up SS. If Correa goes elsewhere would a guy like Kim from the Padres fit? He’s probably a trade candidate now that Bogarts (sp?) is a Padre?
Personally, I don’t think they trade for a SS if they don’t get Correa. They’ll just sign one of the cheaper options and they also have Farmer.
So glad Guardians fans get another season of watching Hedges hit .160.
Lol Ted really tweeted “buckle up twins fans” for a defensive catcher? Don’t get me wrong it’s a pretty good signing but I didn’t need to buckle up for it
In a follow up tweet to that, he implied they were working on multiple things. Even if he got everything correct for the rest of time, I could never take him seriously.
Enjoyed having Vázquez on the Stros, nice player. $10M/year is an overpay but in this market may be cheap.
Golly.
This guy is pretty good.
The Tigers appear disappointing. Free passes with every new President?
Really?
Think so?
We’ll wait
We’ll see
Bassit was another
We’ll wait.
We’ll see.
Do you always talk to yourself? You might want to see someone about that.
Twins have been searching for a solid backstop for A LONG time. Going a decade with Joe Mauer back there, they never needed to think catcher. Let’s hope this signing stabilizes the position because it’s been in flux for far too long.
And all that mystery for $10 Million a year..That’s .nothing to brag about !! if Wilson Contreras got $68 M in five, Vazquez deserved at least $40M for 3 years
I’m shocked he didn’t get more. Helluva deal for the Twins.
He’s basically a contact, singles hitter. Defense is good but not great. But is definitely a winner.
As a Red Sox fan, I can tell you that he’s baseball smart, and a good mentor. The pitchers seem to really like him as well.
Not to be rude, but most teams don’t mind having a singles hitter rather than someone who gets out all the time (like he used to).
Yeah I feel like the remaining teams that missed out on Vasquez, Contreras and Murphy will get their focus on the Blue Jays. Either Jansen or Kirk is going if the jays have a solid offer for an OF
Will Kirk’s body hold up if he has to catch 120 games in a season? His highest total in the minors was 83, in 2022 he was behind the plate for 78, started 74 and completed 64. 265 lbs on a 5’8” frame crouching behind the plate doesn’t seem like it will age well. Maybe he is a Schwarber/Santana/Delgado used to be a catcher but plays 1B /DH kind of bat.
big boi;
Jansen only has 2 years of control. Jays will have to find a win-now team that needs a catcher and has an oversupply of established LH hitting OF’s. Can’t think of a fit.
Kirk is nice but WampumWalloper is right about his holding up as a #1 catcher.
Moreno is attractive but not an established / proven catcher. Cleveland can offer one of George Valera, Will Brennan, or Will Benson – all LH hitting OF’s that do hit well – but the Jays have money to take on an established OF that it seems they’re more secure with that…….even though they keep spending money on veterans and the team doesn’t get any better.
I’m sure they find a match somewhere, but I’d guess their fans will be disappointed.
Well then! I did not see this one coming. I initially thought Vazquez was headed to the Cardinals, and then after they signed Contreras, I thought he was headed to the Padres. Shows what an armchair GM I am.
The more have i seee of Vazquez the better he seems than I originally thought. He plays and and does most things right. Seems really solid
Good for him. He’s worth more IMO.
Did Chaim get outbid again? Damnnnnn. Someone has to pay for the Japanese player overpay.
Sox can’t afford $30 million? Paid half of that to a team in Japan (not to mention the other $90 million).
Seems like a lot ….. wanted him for Cleveland but I don’t suspect they were close to those dollar$
They had the 3 right and 6 of the 7 zeroes right!
Good sign
Kudos to Darragh for aggregating info from FOUR writers in order to lay out the deal for us! They should be leaking stuff to you guys directly!
The Twins will not win another WS until they have another fake dome stadium with plastic baggy. Twins fan deep down in places you don’t talk about at ice fishing parties you know I’m right.
Thank you Col Jessup.
Twins getting another Puerto Rican to entice Correa to stay. Kidding, but solid move, thought he get more.
Kidding but not kidding. It’s the same thing the Mets are hoping for with Ohtani and Senga. BTW, I’m Puertorican myself. No offense, it just makes sense.
Who knew? Cohen’s Wallet was made in Puerto Rico.
LOL, born and raised in the greatest country on earth though. The U.S of A!
Bloom never wanted Vazquez back, that was just PR. The guy does not want any players with previous RedSox history. If they don’t have his fingerprints on them, they gotta go! This guys ego will sink Fenway for decades!
spitball;
The Red Sox owner has constantly pulled the plug on his GM’s in the past.
You kids have been all over this board talking about Red Sox moves – or non-moves – under any article you can stretch it on. Always beating up on Mr. Bloom as if he unilaterally makes moves and the owner can’t do a thing about it. I realize that youngsters follow MLB as if it’s rotisserie league and many people in the local and national baseball media do as well, But the fact is that the Red Sox are a multi-billion dollar entity and business, and the owner is running them as such.
Kvetching under every article about the Red Sox is as tiring as Yankee fans offering 2 of their non-producing players for another teams best player(s). Isn’t there a Boston Globe or Boston Herald website you can kvetch on? Doing in under MLBTR articles isn’t going to change anything.
I hope the Twins put a clause in about his waistline… bad baseball body.
That would be my biggest concern. This was his free agency year, and he still didn’t show up in good shape. I would not expect great conditioning.
Butch779988;
Yes, among other things that and his running speed was discussed on these chatroom boards all season by Red Sox “fans” right up until the day he was traded. The next day Mr. Vázquez magically became a Red Sox legend that the organization could not spare.
At some point it’s no longer a good thing to make fun of deranged, illogical, hateful people. On the other hand, posting on social media keeps them off the streets.
What is BOS doing ?
Dopt, regrouping for a run at the title in the next few years.
Bloom is waiting for the bargains just before ST when all th other teams are done. Expect some M/L signings soon though.
good for you, twinkies. wish the arch-angels got him
Sign Rodon, bring back Correa and the Twins are contenders… to lose in the first round of the playoffs.
Hmm, seems like a steep price for a 3rd tier part time catcher. By tier i mean something like Tier 1 is Realmuto level, Tier 2 is Murphy and Kirk types, and Tier 3 has the Vazquez types. I say Kirk is a Tier 2 since he was an all-star and silver slugger at the position with more walks than strikeouts. Vazquez isn’t anywhere near the hitter to make anything more than Tier 3. That being said, he is a clear upgrade over what they had last year and he will make the pitching staff better.
This is a BIGLY signing for the Twins! YUUGE!
Whether the Twins over pay to re-sign Carlos Correa or land Carlos Rondon, this signing, if Christian Vasquez stays healthy and productive, could be what the Twins need to be playoff, and possibly World Series contenders.
Dreamer
He can break the Yankee curse on the Twinkies. Good for him. 3rd tier m;y ass.
Slight over pay, but also completely in line with this year’s trend in consistently bloated AAV’s on free agent contracts.
I was really hoping he would sign with the Angels so Minassian could jettison Stassi.
The Twins and Guardians have actually made some noise in the past week to improve their standing in the inferior AL Central. Meanwhile, all White Sox fans are hearing is crickets.
Fair enough. 3rd year might have won him.
How will Christian Vazquez WAR in 2023 stack up against Reese McGuire and Connor Wong? Vazquez $10,000,000 vs around $2,000,000 in 2023, and $30,000,000 vs around $6,000,000 over three years. I am glad the Red Sox used the $8,000,000 not used on catching on Chris Martin in the bullpen.
What a difference in extremes from this first 7 years of salary in the MLB vs Free Agents salaries……wow
Meanwhile Chaim Bloom just sits on his a$$ waiting for the cheap deals when everyone else is done despite the Sox shredding huge payroll this offseason.
Just waiting for the right time to announce the Rich Hill 1 year $5.5 M deal. It’s all good.
The Bloom clearing house continues.
pwndroia;
Can’t Mute them fast enough.
Okay? Not sure what I did to get muted but okay. I’m just saying Bloom is bringing in his own guys.
pwndroia;
I haven’t muted you.
You’re pome of my favorite posters. Totally credible. It’s your Red Sox buddies.
Fever?
Since Vasquez is better defensively, I prefer his deal to Contreras’. The Twins have a good C duo now; if Vazquez is mostly used against RHP it could even be very good.
Gruß,
BSHH
The Guardians conned another AL CENTRAL foe into jacking up the price on Vasquez. Thanks Twins, you just spent $30 M and way overpaid.
Meanwhile , Bo Naylor will win rookie of the year for the league minimum.
10 million a year an overpay? That’s a great deal considering how most guys will sign for more. You must be bitter.
I saw highlights on local TV. Looks to me that he’s prone to being overweight. That translates to chance of injury. Course, he has to pass physical to seal the deal.
Great catcher. Solid bat (it works). Wishing him the best.