Twins Acquire Former Top Prospect Cartaya from Dodgers

The Minnesota Twins have acquired former top catching prospect Diego Cartaya from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for minor league right-hander Ricardo Vásquez, both teams announced. Cartaya, 23, was designated for assignment earlier this week, and the Twins, who had an open 40-man roster spot, have now filled their roster.

Cartaya, once a consensus top-20 prospect in baseball, has seen his offensive development stall in the upper minors. In 2022, he slashed .254/.389/.503 with 22 home runs across two Class-A levels. However, his performance dipped in Double-A and Triple-A, where he hit .204/.303/.379 and .208/.293/.350, respectively, over the past two seasons.

Despite his struggles at the plate, Cartaya has shown improvement defensively. Scouting reports highlight his enhanced framing, receiving, and blocking skills, along with his plus arm strength. However, his accuracy has been inconsistent, resulting in a 20% caught-stealing rate over five minor league seasons.

The Twins already have a strong catching duo in Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vázquez, but Cartaya’s addition provides depth. Vázquez, who is owed $10 million, could be traded if the Twins are willing to absorb part of his salary. Cartaya has one minor league option remaining, allowing the Twins to start him in Triple-A without risking waivers.

In return, the Dodgers receive Ricardo Vásquez, a 19-year-old right-hander who signed with the Twins in 2022. Vásquez has struggled in the Dominican Summer League, posting an 8.05 ERA over 57 innings. However, he showed improvement in 2024, reducing his walk rate from 21.9% to 10.7% and increasing his strikeout rate to 32.1%.

The trade offers potential upside for both teams. The Twins gain a young catcher with defensive tools and offensive potential, while the Dodgers add a projectable arm with strikeout ability. Cartaya’s development will be closely watched as he looks to revive his prospect status in Minnesota.