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
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.
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