Catching is shaping up as one of the Twins’ biggest offseason headaches, but the answer doesn’t have to be a splashy one. Minnesota’s best path is more of a bridge plan: keep Ryan Jeffers if possible, move on from Victor Caratini, add a glove-first backup and let Vahn Lackey keep climbing toward the majors.
Jeffers is the first domino. He’s a free agent after another productive season, and the Twins would love to get one more year out of him.
He hit .256/.353/.461 with 14 home runs in 368 plate appearances during the 2026 season, production Minnesota would have a hard time replacing on the open market. The club has already extended the one-year, $23.15 million qualifying offer, and he has until November 17 to decide whether to take it.
If he accepts, the Twins buy themselves time without locking into a longer deal, and Jeffers gets a hefty payday while staying in familiar territory.
If that happens, Minnesota should waste no time trying to trade Caratini. The Twins brought him in last offseason on a two-year, $14 million contract to give the roster catching depth and a switch-hitting option, but his bat faded badly as the year went on.
Before the All-Star break, he posted a .704 OPS. Afterward, that number cratered to .461.
He hit .179 with a .263 on-base percentage in the second half and didn’t homer. For a player who might be asked to shoulder more of the load, that’s not enough.
The contract makes a deal trickier. Caratini still has $10 million left on the books, including the 2027 salary and the buyout tied to his 2028 mutual option. Minnesota would probably have to eat some money to make a trade work, but the Twins shouldn’t let last year’s signing box them in.
Once that’s sorted, the focus should shift to defense. Minnesota needs a catcher who can help control the running game, block pitches and steady the position behind the plate.
The bat doesn’t have to be the selling point here. The Twins could even live with someone who hits below .200 if he brings enough value defensively.
Jeffers can handle the heavier offensive load; the backup’s job would be to give the pitching staff a cleaner, more reliable partner.
And then there’s the future. Vahn Lackey is the organization’s most intriguing long-term catching answer.
Minnesota took him third overall in the 2026 MLB Draft after he put together a huge junior season at Georgia Tech, hitting .397/.519/.772 with 20 home runs and 15 stolen bases. He’s not just a bat, either.
MLB Pipeline gave him a 60 overall grade, along with a 60 for his arm and a 55 for his defense.
Lackey already got his first taste of pro ball in July, playing for both Fort Myers and Cedar Rapids in his debut season. He still needs development time, and a September 2027 arrival would be aggressive, with 2028 looking more realistic. But if he moves quickly, the Twins could give him a late-season look before handing him a bigger role the next year.
Minnesota doesn’t have to force a long-term answer this winter. The cleaner play is to stabilize the position now and keep the runway clear for Lackey later. That means hoping Jeffers stays, finding a home for Caratini, adding a dependable defender and resisting the urge to block the future.
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The idea is not without precedent, with Milwaukees decision to deal Freddy Peralta before his final contract year offering a template. Still, the market for pitchers with only one year of control can be tricky, and there is added uncertainty around the 2027 season that could make teams cautious about paying full freight. For the Twins, the question is not just whether Ryan is valuable enough to trade, but whether the timing and return will ever line up in a way that makes sense. [Read more 🡒]
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Twins Outfield Battle Is Putting Veteran Roles In Real Danger
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Trevor Larnach and Austin Martin are the names most clearly caught in the middle of that shuffle. Larnachs role is no longer secure, and Martin appears headed for a platoon or bench assignment unless the roster picture changes again, which is exactly why the competition matters so much this winter. With several outfielders still fighting for playing time and the front office continuing to sort through the roster, the Twins are entering a stretch where every move could reshape who stays, who slides into a lesser role, and who gets squeezed out entirely. [Read more 🡒]