With the Twins' acquisition of catcher Alex Jackson from the Baltimore Orioles last month, veteran free agent backstop Christian Vázquez, in all likelihood, won't be returning to the Twins, who signed Vázquez to a three-year, $30 million deal in the 2022-23 offseason.
All signs point to Jackson being Ryan Jeffers' backup at catcher, as the former Oriole is a strong defender and slugged .473 in 100 plate appearances last season. Vázquez never lived up to the Twins' expectations after signing the three-year contract, as he posted zero bWAR and a 60 OPS+ in his three seasons with the team. He regressed defensively this past season as well.
While the Twins have seemingly made it clear they won't re-sign Vázquez, other teams are likely interested in his services. Sure, his defense has gotten worse, but the newly implemented ABS challenge system will make framing stats matter less than they did before. His veteran presence as a two-time World Series champion makes him an appealing option for a team seeking a backup catcher if he is willing to sign for an affordable deal.
So, which team will sign Vázquez?
Prediction: Milwaukee Brewers sign Twins free agent catcher Christian Vázquez
According to The Athletic's Jim Bowden, the Brewers are seeking a catcher to back up two-time All-Star William Contreras. Milwaukee catcher Jeferson Quero, the league's No. 84-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, should be ready for the big leagues soon. However, he has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his minor league career, meaning the Brewers will likely want a veteran backup for next season.
Vázquez is a perfect fit for the Brewers, as he likely will sign a one-year deal on a relatively affordable deal. Given his struggles over the past few seasons, Vázquez may actually be lucky to land an MLB deal.
The Brewers are known to operate on a limited budget, making Vázquez a perfect fit for them. Vázquez likely would be ecstatic to sign with the Brewers, as the team reached the NLCS last season, and he wouldn't be too far from where he has lived the past three years.