The Minnesota Twins are adding a veteran presence behind the plate, signing catcher Victor Caratini to a two-year, $14 million deal, pending a physical. After carving out a strong season in Houston, Caratini is headed to the AL Central, where he’ll likely pair with Ryan Jeffers in a platoon that could provide some real balance behind the dish.
Let’s start with what caught the Twins’ eye: Caratini is coming off the most productive season of his career. In 2024 with the Astros, the 32-year-old switch-hitter set personal bests in home runs (12), RBIs (46), and plate appearances (386), while also posting a career-high 111 OPS+. That’s a significant jump from his career average (90 OPS+), and it signals a player who found his rhythm at the plate - particularly in a role tailored to his strengths.
Caratini’s offensive profile has always leaned toward being matchup-dependent, and Houston used him accordingly. He got the bulk of his at-bats against right-handed pitching in 2025, slashing .268/.327/.399 in those matchups.
That’s a solid return, especially for a catcher, and it plays well with what Minnesota already has. Jeffers has shown he can handle lefties, so a time-share between the two could give the Twins one of the more efficient catching tandems in the league - both offensively and defensively.
Before his resurgence in Houston, Caratini’s bat had cooled off since his days with the Cubs, where he last posted above-average numbers back in 2019. He spent time in San Diego and Milwaukee in the interim, and while he never quite broke out, he remained a steady contributor behind the plate.
In two seasons with the Brewers, he hit 16 homers, drove in 59 runs, and compiled a 1.2 WAR across 157 games. His slash line in that span - .224/.312/.359 - wasn’t eye-popping, but it showed enough plate discipline and occasional pop to keep him in the mix.
Now entering his 10th big league season, Caratini has suited up for five teams - the Cubs, Padres, Brewers, Astros, and now the Twins. He’s racked up 720 games, 58 home runs, 247 RBIs, and a career .692 OPS.
While he’s never been a star, he brings veteran savvy, switch-hitting flexibility, and enough pop to make pitchers think twice. And with this new deal, he’ll be making the most money of his career - a well-earned reward for a player who’s quietly carved out a valuable niche.
For Minnesota, this move isn’t just about numbers - it’s about fit. Caratini gives them a reliable presence behind the plate, a complementary bat to Jeffers, and a player coming off a season where everything seemed to click. If he can replicate even a portion of what he did in Houston, the Twins will have made a smart, low-risk investment in a position that often defines a team’s rhythm and chemistry.