April 3, 2025
Minnesota Twins catcher
Christian Vazquez will retreat to the bench for Thursday's contest against the visiting Houston Astros at Target Field.
Ryan Jeffers will do the catching for right-hander
Joe Ryan and will bat eighth against right-hander
Hunter Brown. Vazquez and Jeffers continue to alternate playing time behind the dish for the Twins early on in 2025, which makes the 34-year-old veteran unattractive to fantasy managers outside of two-catcher or AL-only leagues. The Puerto Rican backstop has played in three games so far and is hitless in his 10 plate appearances with no walks and a strikeout. Meanwhile, Jeffers has gone 4-for-15 with an RBI, run scored, two walks and two strikeouts in four games. Jeffers offers slightly more offensive upside, but neither catcher should excite fantasy managers all that much. Jeffers has two hits in 10 career at-bats versus Brown.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
January 23, 2025
According to Dan Hayes and Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres have engaged in trade discussions around catcher
Christian Vazquez. The Padres do not have a proven option behind
Luis Campusano on their depth chart. Earlier this offseason, the Twins acquired
Diego Cartaya and
Mickey Gasper to bolster their catching room. They also have
Ryan Jeffers, who is slated to be the No.1 option again this offseason, leaving Vazquez potentially without a spot on the roster. The Twins have also shown interest in acquiring San Deigo right-handed pitcher
Dylan Cease but would have to add several assets alongside Vazquez to acquire him. Last summer, Vazquez posted a .221/.248/.327 line with seven home runs and three stolen bases. The veteran backstop would be deployed as a reliable No.2 option behind Campusano but would only carry value in deeper NL-only formats if acquired by San Diego.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Dan Hayes
September 11, 2024
The Minnesota Twins activated outfielder
Manuel Margot (groin) from the 10-day injured list and catcher
Christian Vazquez from the paternity list on Wednesday and optioned infielder
Michael Helman and catcher
Jair Camargo to the minors in corresponding moves. Vazquez will do the catching and bat ninth on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels and right-hander
Jack Kochanowicz at Target Field. It's a promising matchup for Vazquez and the Twins, but the 34-year-old Puerto Rican backstop has very little fantasy upside in the nine-hole. He's hitting .228 (60-for-263) on the year with seven homers and 27 RBI. Vazquez will serve as
Ryan Jeffers' backup now that he's back. Margot is recovered from a mild right-groin strain and will return to reserve outfield duties that fantasy managers can ignore in mixed formats.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com - Do-Hyoung Park
February 18, 2024
Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said on Saturday that he expects catchers
Ryan Jeffers and
Christian Vazquez to split playing time close to evenly this year. The Twins signed Vazquez to a three-year, $30 million deal last winter, but the 33-year-old veteran had the worst season of his career, hitting .223 (73-for-327) with six homers and 32 RBI, while Jeffers batted .276 (79-for-286) with a career-high-tying 14 homers and 43 RBI. As a result, the 26-year-old Jeffers became the team's starting catcher for the postseason. Vazquez worked hard on his swing and body this offseason, but Jeffers earned more playing time with a strong second half in 2023. At this point, the younger Jeffers has more offensive upside, but with an even timeshare expected, neither catcher is all that attractive for two-catcher leagues in fantasy.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Dan Hayes
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