The Minnesota Twins’ biggest offseason call is sitting right in front of them: what to do with Ryan Jeffers.
Jeffers, a veteran catcher who has spent his first six major league seasons in Minnesota, is now headed for free agency. He’s been a steady presence both at the plate and behind it, and the Twins are facing a choice between making a serious push to bring him back or turning the position over to someone else in the organization.
Across his career, Jeffers has hit .242 with 82 home runs. Minnesota knew his free agency was coming after 2026, but the club kept him at the MLB Trade Deadline and tried to make a run instead of moving him.
That gamble didn’t pay off. The Twins missed the playoffs, and Jeffers’ second half didn’t help much either, as he hit .230 with 42 strikeouts in 187 at-bats.
Now the front office has to figure out whether Jeffers is worth a new contract. According to Spotrac.com, his projected market value sits at three years and $39.7 million, or $13.3 million per season.
If Minnesota lets him go, the catching picture for 2027 gets murky fast. Victor Caratini is under contract for 2027 and could step into the role, but the Twins may also have to look outside the organization for help.
There is some internal depth, though not much of it appears ready right away. Among Minnesota’s Top 10 prospects, according to MiLB.com, four are catchers.
Only one of them - Khadim Diaw - has an MLB ETA of 2027, and he reached Double-A in 2026. Vahn Lackey, the organization’s second-best prospect after being taken with the third overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, isn’t expected to arrive until 2029.
The Twins also have Alex Jackson in the mix after designating him for assignment in mid-August. He cleared waivers and reported to Triple-A, so he remains in the organization, but he doesn’t solve the same problem Jeffers would leave behind.
That’s what makes this decision so important. There aren’t many catchers on the market who offer what Jeffers does, and he’s already a familiar face in the clubhouse.
At the same time, Minnesota needs a bigger answer as it tries to get back to the postseason. If re-signing Jeffers is the only major move of the offseason, especially after the club has signed three free agents in each of the last three years, the bigger picture may not change much.
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