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The Twins Officially Welcome Their New Catcher

Originally posted on The Cold Wire | By Curt Bishop | Last updated 12/16/22

The Minnesota Twins found their catcher earlier this week, signing veteran backstop Christian Vazquez to a three-year, $30 million deal.

Vazquez spent the 2022 season with the Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros and was a key factor in Houston’s run to another World Series title.

The 32-year-old hit for a .274 average and hit nine home runs during the regular season.

Minnesota led the American League Central division for much of the season before a late-season collapse took them out of postseason contention.

Though the team recently lost their star shortstop in Carlos Correa, who signed a 13-year, $350 million deal with the San Francisco Giants, the Twins have at the very least found their new catcher.

On Twitter, the team welcomed Vazquez to Minnesota.

Welcome to Minnesota, @Christian_7_7_!!! pic.twitter.com/ZHgczPDjMd

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) December 16, 2022

Twins Announce Vazquez News

Vazquez replaces Gary Sanchez, who is now a free agent after being acquired from the New York Yankees earlier in the season.

The veteran catcher brings solid defense to a team that made just 83 errors during the regular season.

Vazquez committed just eight errors during the regular season and caught 19 runners attempting to steal.

He also had a fielding percentage of .991 and had a total of 11 Defensive Runs Saved.

Vazquez is a two-time World Series champion, having recently won a ring with the Astros and also having won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018.

The Twins finished the regular season in third place in the AL Central with a 78-84 record.

With Vazquez in the fold, they’ll look to improve for 2023.

This article first appeared on The Cold Wire and was syndicated with permission.

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