Kurt Suzuki trade rumors: St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles potential suitors
By Hayden Kane
Kurt Suzuki has delivered outstanding results as the replacement for an All-Star catcher with the Minnesota Twins. Faced with the uncomfortable task of replacing homegrown star Joe Mauer behind the plate, Suzuki has shined and was even selected to this month’s All-Star game.
More from Baltimore Orioles
- Shohei Ohtani trade rumors live tracker: Every update so far
- MLB Rumors: Potential Braves reunion, Lance Lynn no-trade clause and Orioles deadline intentions
- MLB Rumors: Cardinals budging on Arenado, Orioles-Ohtani package, Yankees backup plan
- MLB Rumors: Shohei Ohtani, Angels, Dodgers, Rich Hill
- NY Mets: 4 monstrous trade packages for Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer
Suzuki has played so well, in fact, that the Twins have explored the option of signing him to a contract extension to keep him beyond the one-year deal he signed this season. Those talks have not gotten off the ground, however, and so the question that emerges with any veteran with an expiring contract has come up: would the Twins consider trading Suzuki to a contender?
If they did explore that route, Jorge Ortiz of USA Today writes that the St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles might be two potential landing spots for Suzuki:
"The Cardinals and Orioles — both losing All-Star-caliber catchers to injuries — are at the front of the line. The Jays might consider upgrading as well.Who gets him: It would seem to be a tossup between the Cardinals and Orioles. This one might come down to the deadline and whichever team is willing to give up the better prospect."
The Twins have said that they are in full selling mode, so if they do not generate momentum with extension talks, Suzuki might end up available. And if he was, it would be possible that he would get the chance to replace another star catcher, albeit on a more temporary basis, in either St. Louis or Baltimore.