The Los Angeles Dodgers have traded minor league catcher Diego Cartaya to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for minor league right-hander Jose Vasquez, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
Dodgers have traded Diego Cartaya to the Twins.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) January 9, 2025
Cartaya was once one of the most sought-after prospects in the Los Angeles organization, drawing interest from other teams. However, the 23-year-old has struggled with injuries in the recent past. In addition, the Dodgers just signed All-Star Will Smith to a long-term deal and have Austin Barnes as the backup catcher. The chances of Cartaya getting a shot at the big leagues may increase with another team.
Dodgers Trade Diego Cartaya to Twins
Cartaya who was once suspect defensively has developed into a decent backstop. His bat is still a work in progress. While he was at Double-A Tulsa, the right-hand-hitting catcher had around a .250 batting average, but particularly struggled against left-handers. The Dodgers saw promise, however, and promoted him to Triple-A Oklahoma City where he hit barely above .200 with a high strikeout rate. Cartaya still has one minor-league year in his contract, so he has a chance to develop further offensively.
Vasquez, the Dodgers’ hope, is a diamond in the rough. His ERA has been as high as 11.00 in his career. Last year, it was as low as 4.99. Command is an issue as evidenced by his high walk rate. As expected, right-handers don’t fare as well against him, hitting, just above .200. Left-handers find his stuff more palatable. They hit above .300. Whatever the case, the Dodgers, who value pitching repertoire, must see potential.
The Dodgers have been busy this week, making significant moves in their roster. They traded Gavin Lux and brought in infielder Hye-seong Kim, adding new talent to the team as they prepare for the upcoming season.
The Twins now have four catchers on the 40-man roster, with Cartaya joining Christian Vázquez, Ryan Jeffers and Jair Camargo.
Main Photo: © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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