LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers traded catcher Diego Cartaya to the Twins in exchange for Minor League right-hander Jose Vasquez, the team announced Thursday.

Cartaya, who was MLB Pipeline's No. 1 Dodgers prospect as recently as 2023, was designated for assignment on Jan. 3 in order to clear room for Hyeseong Kim on Los Angeles' 40-man roster.

TRADE DETAILS

Dodgers receive: RHP Jose Vasquez
Twins receive: C Diego Cartaya

Originally signed as an intentional free agent in 2018 out of Maracay, Venezuela, Cartaya once ranked among the most highly regarded prospects in baseball. But after being named the Dodgers' Minor League Player of the Year in 2022, Cartaya took a step back offensively. Between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, he hit .221 with a .686 OPS and 11 homers across 95 games last season.

Heading into his age-23 season, Cartaya has yet to appear in the Majors. In 363 Minor League games with the Dodgers' organization from 2019-24, he slashed .236/.340/.435.

Cartaya did not have a clear path forward with the Dodgers, with starting backstop Will Smith under contract through 2033. Austin Barnes and Hunter Feduccia are also on the 40-man roster, and current top prospect Dalton Rushing is knocking on the door of the big leagues.

Vasquez, 20, signed with the Twins as an international free agent out of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, in 2022. He spent the last two seasons pitching in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, going 5-2 with an 8.05 ERA across 22 outings (nine starts).