Dodgers Make Trade, Send Former Top Prospect to Twins

The Los Angeles Dodgers have found a trading partner for Diego Cartaya.

On Thursday, the Dodgers sent the former top prospect to the Minnesota Twins for minor league pitcher Jose Vasquez.

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The Dodgers designated Cartaya for assignment last week, but had a week to find a trading partner for him. The Twins, looking to take a chance on the former top prospect, skip the waiver line and land the young catcher.

It wasn’t long ago that Cartaya was the top prospect in the Dodgers organization. He appeared to be the catcher of the future in Los Angeles, but struggled to hit at the upper minor league levels.

In 2023, Cartaya hit .189/.278/.379 with 19 home runs and 57 RBIs. In 2024, across the Double-A and Triple-A levels, he slashed .221/.323/.363 with 11 home runs and 52 RBIs.

As his hitting struggles continued, another Dodgers catcher in Dalton Rushing climbed the ranks of the organization and surpassed him on the prospect lists. With Rushing and Will Smith ahead of him, it became increasingly clearer that Cartaya may not have a future in Los Angeles.

As the Twins take a chance on Cartaya, the Dodgers get a 20-year-old right-handed pitcher out of the Dominican Republic.

Vasquez had a 4.99 ERA across 11 appearances (three starts) last season in the Dominican Summer League. He had 45 strikeouts across 30.2 innings.

Vasquez is a project, but the Dodgers clearly like something, and will take a chance on developing him over the next few seasons.

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