REPORT: Two Trade Proposals to Send Twins $200 million Catcher to Padres
Ryan Jeffers appears to be a key piece in the Twins’ long-term plans, but front offices occasionally need to make bold moves to shake up a team’s core. Below are two trade proposals that explore sending Jeffers to the San Diego Padres.
The Padres, led by the always-aggressive AJ Preller, are known for their creative and bold trade strategies. Following an offseason filled with major signings and high-profile moves, they find themselves in a challenging position. The team must cut payroll while addressing critical roster needs, with catcher being one of the most pressing. While Christian Vázquez has been a popular trade candidate for San Diego, Ryan Jeffers might be an even better fit for Preller’s blueprint.
Jeffers is young, cost-efficient, and has notable upside, making him a great target for a Padres team aiming to stay competitive while managing finances. While Minnesota could consider extending him, trading Jeffers might provide payroll flexibility to address other needs, such as bolstering the bullpen or enhancing their farm system. Here’s one potential trade scenario that could benefit both teams:
Proposal 1: A Cash-Neutral Deal for Wandy Peralta
San Diego, currently grappling with a projected payroll exceeding $200 million, is actively seeking ways to reduce costs without sacrificing functionality. Veteran lefty Wandy Peralta, who joined the Padres through free agency last year on a four-year, $16.5 million deal (with player options around $4 million annually), might be a trade candidate if the Padres can address other needs.
Peralta is a reliable reliever known for inducing ground balls and limiting left-handed hitters (.649 career OPS vs. LHH). However, his home run rate has increased in recent seasons, from 0.3 per nine innings in 2022 to 1.4 in 2024, which could be a concern. Last season, Peralta posted a 3.99 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP over 46 appearances. With the right adjustments, he could regain his effectiveness, making him a valuable asset for Minnesota.
In this proposal, the Twins would trade Jeffers straight-up for Peralta, a deal that is cash-neutral since Jeffers is projected to earn $4.7 million in arbitration. This trade fulfills both teams’ needs: San Diego gains a controllable, high-upside catcher without increasing payroll, while Minnesota strengthens its bullpen with a dependable lefty.
From the Twins’ perspective, the return for Jeffers might seem underwhelming, but the team’s win-now mindset could make acquiring a proven reliever a worthwhile move. For the Padres, this trade resolves a key roster issue without worsening their financial situation, creating a win-win scenario.
Proposal 2: A Multi-Team Deal with Salary Relief and Young Talent
If the Padres are looking to make a bold move, a three-team trade might be the solution. For example, if the Padres aim to acquire Jeffers but need to shed some salary to stay within their budget, a third team, such as the Reds or Athletics, could step in to take on a contract like Luis Arraez’s or Dylan Cease’s in exchange for prospects.
In this scenario, the Padres land Jeffers and gain financial flexibility by offloading a mid-level salary. The Twins could then pursue one of the Padres’ promising young pitchers, such as Henry Baez, Isaiah Lowe, or Victor Lizarraga. Meanwhile, the third team absorbs the salary while acquiring one or two lower-level prospects from the Padres.
This type of deal provides the Twins with long-term potential by adding controllable pitching, gives the Padres a catcher upgrade and payroll relief, and allows the third team to build for the future. It’s a creative approach typical of Preller, offering benefits for all parties involved.
Why Jeffers is a Fit for San Diego
Jeffers embodies the qualities the Padres highly value: youth, affordability, and upside. He’s coming off a season where he posted a .791 OPS while appearing in a career-high 122 games. Though he has been worth -15 defensive runs saved over the past two seasons, his performance in Caught Stealing Above Average and Pop Time showed improvement last year. While Vázquez might seem like the more logical trade candidate due to his expiring contract, Jeffers’s age (27) and team-friendly deal make him an attractive medium-term option.
Several contending teams would likely have interest in adding Jeffers, but the Padres stand out as a natural fit. Whether through a direct trade for immediate help, such as Peralta, or a more intricate multi-team deal, there are viable pathways to make this happen. Twins fans should keep an eye on this—things could get intriguing.