The Dodgers protected Diego Cartaya, the crown jewel of their highly touted farm system, for years. Injuries and poor performance prompted a change.

The Twins acquired Cartaya in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday for minor league pitcher Jose Vazques. The Dodgers designated the 23-year-old Cartaya for assignment last week.

The 23-year-old catcher, designated for assignment last week after the Hyeseong Kim signing, is swapped for 20-year-old minor-league pitcher Jose Vasquez.

Cartaya played 93 games at Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City last season. The 23-year-old Venezuelan had 66 home runs and 235 RBIs in 363 minor league games for the Dodgers.

The team also came to terms with a large group of arbitration-eligible players, including Royce Lewis and Joe Ryan.

The Twins have acquired former top catching prospect Diego Cartaya from the Dodgers, per announcements from both clubs. Cartaya was

The Minnesota Twins are adding depth at the catcher position, acquiring 23-year-old prospect Diego Cartaya from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Jose Vasquez.

Former Dodgers top prospect Diego Cartaya was traded to the Twins after he was DFA'ed to make room for Hye-seong Kim.

Cartaya, the former top prospect, was designated for assignment by LA on Friday. Lux was traded to Cincinnati on Monday. Eric Stephen is the managing editor of True Blue LA, where he's covered the Dodgers since 2009, and the co-host of the Three-Inning Save podcast. He's on Bluesky at @ericstephen.bsky.social.

It's been a quiet offseason on the Twins' front, though they may finally be awaking from their slumber after acquiring a former Top-25 prospect from the Dodgers.