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Minnesota Twins Place Catcher Kurt Suzuki on Trade Waivers

By Andrew Schmid

Jul 26, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki (8) hits a double in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Target Field. The Braves won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 26, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki (8) hits a double in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Target Field. The Braves won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Minnesota Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki may be on his way to another team after the team placed him on trade waivers.

The trade block became a little more interesting yesterday after news broke that the Minnesota Twins placed Kurt Suzuki on trade waivers. When the Twins made the move, a 48-hour clock began for opposing teams to place a claim on the catcher. According to Mike Berardino of The Pioneer Press, a source stated that this waiver period ends at midday today. Should no team claim him, the Twins may negotiate with any and all interested clubs.

This scenario, however, seems to be rather unlikely. A free agent come winter, Suzuki only has about $1.64 million left on his contract, making him an affordable target for even the most cash-strapped teams. He does come with a vesting option for next season valued at $6 million, but he is well shy of amassing enough plate appearances to trigger that clause.

To add even more appeal, the righty has played fairly well this year. His bat has returned to a level close to 2014 when he made the American League All-Star team. Through 79 games, he has batted .283 with decent power totals. His statistics may not make him a major threat in the lineup, but it is difficult to find that kind of production from a catcher – especially a catcher on a reasonable salary.

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Two potential suitors for Suzuki are the Cleveland Indians and the New York Mets. Both teams have a need for an improvement behind the dish, and this might be their best chance at doing so. The Indians attempted to upgrade their battery by trading for Jonathan Lucroy, but he infamously vetoed their trade and subsequently went to the Texas Rangers. Suzuki may not be as valuable as Lucroy, but he is still certainly better than the current Chris Gimenez–Roberto Perez tandem.

As for the New York Mets, Travis d’Arnaud and Rene Rivera are currently serving as their catching options, but neither player has excelled this season. Both have been roughly replacement level players and have done little to aid the Mets in their playoff push. The Mets have been much worse than expected this year, and their catching woes are only a part of the problem. Still, adding Suzuki would make their postseason dreams a little more achievable.

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Whether Suzuki will go to either of these teams remains to be seen. There is always a chance that neither the Mets nor Indians have an interest in him, and a rival club could place a claim to prevent another team from landing his services. Only time will tell if and how Suzuki’s tenure with the Minnesota Twins will end.

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