Now with more clarity on their broadcasting situation established for 2024, the Twins have started to make some significant offseason moves, including the Jorge Polanco trade and the signing of Carlos Santana. Since rumors about Polanco’s possible departure have swirled for months, it stands to reason that the Twins could also now finally move other trade candidates as Max Kepler or Christian Vazquez, though The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman writes that there hasn’t been any real steam on a possible salary-shedding Vazquez trade.”
Minnesota was reportedly speaking with teams about potential Vazquez deals back in November, though Gleeman and Dan Hayes wrote at the time that a trade may not be too likely, both due to Vazquez’s $20MM in remaining salary and the catcher’s very disappointing 2023 campaign. In their most recent piece, Gleeman and Hayes agree that a Vazquez trade may still be something of a longshot, with the Twins’ desire to retain catching depth also acting as a factor. If Vazquez was dealt, Ryan Jeffers would step into the starting catching role and either rookie Jair Camargo or another veteran addition would be the backup, so Minnesota might prefer to stand pat.
More from the AL Central…
- After playing third base in college and at the start of his pro career in 2021, Justyn-Henry Malloy now looks to be on more or less a full-time path as a corner outfielder, and the Tigers prospect told Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press that he has spent the winter preparing for this role. “Every day, I’m out here shagging fly balls and making throws to bases,” Malloy said. “I want to be a player that my pitchers can trust….It’s something that I circle on my day, that we’re going to do some defense and get better. That’s been my mentality all offseason.” Baseball America ranked Malloy as the sixth-best prospect in Detroit’s system and also cited him as one of 15 players who just missed making their 2024 edition of the sport’s best prospects, noting that Malloy has a good throwing arm but struggled with accuracy in throwing from third to first base. While Malloy’s defensive future is still a question mark, his bat already seems big league-ready — Malloy hit .277/.417/.474 with 23 home runs over 611 plate appearances with Triple-A Toledo in 2023.
- Kris Bubic underwent Tommy John surgery last April, and the Royals southpaw told Jaylon Thompson of the Kansas City Star that he is now about 10 days away from his first bullpen session. Bubic expects to return around the middle of the season given the usual TJ recovery timeline, and he is taking the opportunity during his rehab to make some mechanical changes, as well as looking forward to continue work on developing a slider as a new pitch in his arsenal. Bubic was the 40th overall pick of the 2018 draft, and is one of several well-regarded Royals pitching prospects who have yet to really break out at the big league level, thus greatly hampering Kansas City’s rebuild efforts. The Tommy John procedure provided yet another obstacle for the 26-year-old Bubic, who has a 4.85 ERA over 325 career Major League innings.
Vazquez is a $3-4MM player at this stage. Not sure how he got that contract when it looked like he was already slipping.
Vazquez got the deal due to the clueless Twins front office. Falvey is so under qualified for the job, don’t know why he’s still there.
fletch – Just a few months before the Twins signed him, the Astros gave up a couple pretty good prospects for 2 months of Glitter Belt Boy … but they quickly realized the analytics that rated Vaz a good defender were 100% crap.
This is a guy that under his BFF Cora did not bother with conditioning, was lazy as hell behind the plate, couldn’t stay focused in games, and pitchers didn’t want as their battery-mate.
Bloom screwed up many times, but trading GBB was arguably his finest moment.
Henry-Malloy was one I wish ATL held onto, but not surprised he was the price of obtaining Jimenez, which has worked out splendidly (esp. with ATL extending him). Cheering on JHM from afar.
Might end up working out well for both teams. That’s what competent GMs should do. We know AA is a great GM, but the jury is still out on Scott Harris.
If they didn’t extend him it would’ve been probably a bad move (or if he isn’t good anymore which I doubt). Malloy does strike out a good bit but he walks so much and has pop. I mean Jimenez was good but ATL was one and done last year so extending him kept the jury out on this trade. ATL always needs a LF but hopefully Kelenic is solid. All they gave up was cash so it all works out well if he’s ok.
For real, even at the time I was super bummed about trading him and I had expressed that on here when the deal went down. (Although I think I was a different name back then.) At least JJ was pretty solid and they were able to retain him!
I’m a big fan of Malloys. I was happy to hear he is working hard on his defense because that is all that could hold him back at this point. Even if he can split a corner OF and the DH spot with Carpenter this year or more likely next with Canha being in the lineup, I think his bat needs to be in the Tigers lineup sooner rather than later.
It almost implies that Malloy didn’t work hard on his defense in the past, though I hardly think that is the case. I think he worked hard, but it didn’t improve. That could be the case again with OF. What I find disappointing is that after showing immense improvement, it seems they want to make Carpenter a DH. It should be Carpenter, Meadows and Greene against RHP, with Canha DH. Against LHP, Carpenter, Greene, Canha with Malloy DH. Assuming Greene is healthy.
I agree. Carp made a sliding catch last year in a game against the Jays I watched that was awesome. I think he can play the OF with Malloy at DH. Canha will hopefully be a bench bat by the end of the season. If Greene didn’t get hurt I don’t see them signing Canha.
LET JHM COOK.
For real, I’m shocked the tigers didn’t give this guy a call last year. I know his defense is suspect at times but he has also been an OBP God in the upper minors.
Why? They had Nevin. (choke)
The guy can’t play any other spot than DH…He wasn’t getting Miggy’s ABs
Lol. Jury. Ha! Preposterous. Pitchforks on standby. Juries are like badges. We don’t need no stinking juries.
Malloy will take over for Canha after 24 at the latest. And if Meadows doesn’t work out, we still have Clark rising fast.
GO BUBIC, GO ROYALS!
Royals have Bubic in their hairs
LF- Greene
CF- Clark
RF- Meadows
C- Dingler
1B- Torkelson
2B- Keith
SS- Baez (McGonigal)
3B- Jung
DH- Malloy
Not too shabby. Christian Santana could be the future SS, too.
Kevin McGonigle and Cristian Santana both finished the season in A ball. They are unlikely to contribute in 2024.
I could be wrong on this point, but my understanding was that Ryan Kreidler would again be the backup. Or, they could potentially promote one of Wenceel Perez and Eddys Leonard.
I think D-nice is talking about the fiture projected ouneup for Detroit.
Kreidler spent most of the year hurt or in the minors. I think him, Leonard and Perez are long shots to make the roster. Zach McKinistry is the backup but Baez will be given every chance to earn his contract. I’d rather see Perez or Leonard brought up if they need someone because Kreidler did not look good at all last year. Maybe he has made some adjustments though. Spring training could hold a surprise or two.
Yeah….the bench this year will be Kelly, Ibanez, Baddoo and McKinstry….Unless he beats out Veirling for 3B. Fangraphs has McKinstry starting and Veirling on the bench.
I’m sorry, but Baddoo is one guy that I just wish they’d cut ties with. Outside a brief spurt when he first got into our lineup I really haven’t seen jack squat out of him. Take Baez too.
I like Baddoo but he has been inconsistent and streaky. Bit of power, bit of speed. You can see 20-20 potential with him and he’s fun to watch. If things broke right he’d be another Arozarena. If he makes the team I’d say this is his last year if he doesn’t show them more.
Future. Not this season
I wouldn’t rely on Dingler as anything but a back up. Plus you seem to have left Carpenter off your list.
Hopefully I’m wrong, but I feel like Carpenter will end up not as good as Malloy and the others. Hopefully he is and they have a good problem on their hands though. I just get the feeling that last season will end up better than this season.
Not too shabby, there. Though I REALLY do wish they’d just cut Baez loose. Yeah, not my money, but still, the guy has been pretty much atrocious for that whole damn contract.
Its hard to cut Baez when they don’t have a replacement for him. Zack Short was putting up similar numbers at league minimum, and HARRIS made the executive decision to cut him instead. He was immediately claimed by the Mets. I guess that puts Kreidler in the “next in line” spot. Haven’t seen what Leonard can do defensively. McKinstry looks stretched when he plays the position.
Short was terrible too though and Kreidler showed nothing last year. I think they should see what Leonard offers at some point and absent a huge bounce back from Peytom Graham, go pick up a long term replacement for Baez (i.e. Arroyo in Cin). Even if Baez bounces back with an okay year there is no one in the system to replace him down the road. McGonigle will end up at 2B according to scouting reports. Cupboard seems pretty bare at SS in the system.
Anderson.
There’s a reason why he slapped that dude in the balls and went down.
Anderson.
I hope the Trains can move Vasquez to get a SP… doubt it will happen at this point though.
You think the return for Vazquez will be an SP? Lol.
At this point Vasquez is a overpaid backup catcher. There are better options in the minors than him for league minimum.
A very similar traded happened between the Mets and Orioles with McCann being traded. Look how much salary the Mets had to move McCann for a PTBNL.
No but if we could move Vasquezs salary then maybe we’d have money to sign one.
At the point if the Twins were able to trade Vazquez they would likely get nothing more than a low level lottery ticket and some salary relief
They may be able to package Vazquez with a prospect or two, depending on who they are, and getting one of the Marlins SP’s. Possibly only a back end guy though. And Eury is untouchable.
Marlins already traded for Christian Bethancourt and he probably offers more potential upside on both sides of the ball at this point
Moving him off 3B – where reviews showed promise – seems dubious especially since there’s no well-rounded standout emerging to guard the hot corner right now. Yes, OF does get his bat here likely later this year, but anyone can play a corner in the outfield…
But can anyone hit like him? His walk rate and OBP are great and his power is developing.
Jace Jung has entered the chat
Jung will be at 3B. I think Malloy will take over for Canha next season
Agree. I don’t see Malloy playing the field and Jung will be at 3B next year.
Men know how to make chili but unless it comes in a box we have no idea how to make cake. That’s right. I said it
The cubs supposedly made a competing offer to Vazquez. Glad he took the twins offer.
Malloy could have been a better show than Blossom especially with Jennifer Aniston in the cast. Or maybe it was Molloy.
Expensive, aging catcher signings aren’t a great use of foresight. Red Sox fans grumbled at the front office when reports had a reunion with Vazquez rebuffed. It was totally the right move. Too bad the Twins didn’t recognize the obvious. Same with Correa too.
Once he rejected their offer for the Giants they should have pulled theirs off the table; it may have had clubhouse implications & left a temporary void at short, but mgmt too often (league-wide) let the inmates run the asylum…
Bubic was promising prior to the injury last year.
Vasquez and cash to the Marlins for a lottery ticket pitcher or two seems too obvious.
Vasquez update? What a nothingburger! More clarity on broadcasting? Sure, for this year, no dollars public yet as far as I know and there is ZERO discourse that spending will increase because of the ONE secured year. You make it sound like they made the Polonco trade and Santana pick-up because of that – hogwash! The Santana pick-up is a move made BECAUSE they have restricted spending this year and Polonco has always been in the table. Wow, smdh. Just wow
There’s a lot of competition for OF/DH. Riley, Meadows, Carpenter, now Canha, are locks. Then there’s Baddoo.. Then Malloy. I guess it depends on how much they plan to sit Riley & Meadows. But I expect those 2 to get a lot of ABs each against LHers. AJ will still protect them from some of them.
Reports make it sound like Malloy is a terrible defender. Maybe this season is an outfield tryout for the remaining question marks. Might as well see what he can do.
Don’t see why the Twins would trade Kepler at this point. Their OF isn’t deep like their infield. Trading Kep would just open another hole. I’m sure they would like to dump Vazquezs’ salary but very unlikely. Better to keep him as they would have to eat most of his salary to move him and would be very thin at catcher without him.
Pretty good. 3 sentences from a prospect and ….we’ve got an article and a dozen comments. Tiger fans are in dire straights heading straight for the dinner jackets. 10 years of Chris Illich and we are deperate.
Twins did right, trading Polanco they got most of the value out of him for the lowest cost. You can’t blame any team that does that. That’s what makes these new signings of players who’ve never played so exciting for the player and the teams. His stat;s belay that choice by the young players to sign deals like Keith did in Detroit.
If DET lineup has the same kind of numbers (28th in MLB) that we did last season to start off, JHM will be in the lineup quite regularly. As the old saying goes, if the bat plays, they’ll find you a spot. And with the addition the likes of JHM, Colt Keith, etc I think this Tigers team could surprise alot of folks. Especially if our new pitching additions can contribute. Should at the very least be a fun team to watch grow.
Scott Harris to NY Mets for Jett Williams. Who says, no?