It's been a quiet offseason so far for the Minnesota Twins, although that's hardly surprising given the low expecations fans have for what might happen. While the team didn't reduce the payroll again, no wiggle room was added and the team already being at its limit means the only way to create space is to start trading guys away.
There's not a long list of guys the Twins can afford to use as trade currency while still remaining serious about being competitive. Carlos Correa's name has been floated a few times but folding on his contract before the third season of it kicks in is too cowardly even by Minnesota's standards.
Instead, Christian Vazquez's name has popped up once again as a potential trade candidate. He was mentioned last year as someone the team might move to free up space and the same conversation is happened as he prepares to enter the final year of his $30 million contract.
Minnesota didn't get any takers last offseason, although it's unclear how hard they tried to move him. The same seems to be the case again this winter, as a potential trade partner might have been taken off the board after the latest free agent signing.
Rangers signing Kyle Higashioka means they aren't trading for Christian Vazquez
Kyle Higashioka agreed to a deal with the Texas Rangers, which doesn't seem like it impacts the Twins but it sort of does. Christian Vazquez is one of the players Minnesota might try to trade this winter to free up some money and roster space, and the Rangers had him on their radar a few years ago when he was a free agent.
While nothing had been officially reported, logic suggests that if the Rangers wanted him then they might have been a potential trade partner to acquire him now. That's off the table with the signing of Higashioka which means the Twins have one fewer option on the trade market if they want to move Vazquez.
It ultimately raises the question of whether a trade will even happen at all. Texas wasn't front of mind in terms of landing spots for Vazquez but it's also hard to think of which teams would be. He's set to make $10 million next year which is a hefty sum for an offensively challenged catcher, although he's mostly bene vewied as a defensive addition everywhere he's gone.
At that price point the Twins might be stuck with him, or would need to eat some of the contract to make a trade happen. Minnesota's main incentive for trading Vazquez, though, is to dump his salary so it wouldn't make much sense to retain any of it in a trade.
That's sort of the Twins' offseason in a nutshell, though. When front office gymnastics are needed to even begin cooking up potential moves, it's not a great sign and that goes double when salary dumping a backup catcher is this complicated.
Minnesota hanging onto Vazquez isn't the worst thing in the world, either. He's already on the books for 2025 and provided defense that Ryan Jeffers struggled to last season. It all centers on being a money-saving move, which is unfortunately the engine that will drive most decisions the Twins make this winter -- assuming they make any at all.
More Minnesota Twins news and rumors