The Minnesota Twins have finally broken their streak of one-year deals, handing out a two-year, $14 million contract to switch-hitting catcher Victor Caratini. It’s their first multiyear signing since Carlos Correa joined the club nearly three years ago, and while Caratini might not be a headline-grabber, he’s a smart, steady addition-especially in the context of the Twins’ current roster and payroll limitations.
At the start of the offseason, Caratini stood out as a logical fit for Minnesota, given their need behind the plate and their apparent budget-conscious approach. He wasn’t alone on that list-Josh Bell was another name that made sense, and now the Twins have landed both, each on matching $7 million annual deals. It’s not flashy, but it’s functional.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about chasing stars. The Twins are shopping in the value aisle, and while Bell and Caratini aren’t going to light up highlight reels every night, they’re both capable, experienced players who can fill roles without breaking the bank. Still, given the broader picture of the Twins’ offseason, the timing of the Caratini signing raises some interesting questions.
For the past three years, Minnesota has essentially split catching duties down the middle between Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vázquez-232 starts apiece. Vázquez is now a free agent, and Caratini appears to be his replacement.
On paper, it’s an upgrade. Vázquez, 35, struggled mightily last season, hitting just .189 with a .545 OPS while earning $10 million.
Caratini, 32, comes in younger, cheaper, and with a more productive bat-.259 average and .728 OPS in 2025.
Defensively, the drop-off might not be significant either. Vázquez has shown signs of decline behind the plate, and Caratini has long been respected for his work with pitchers and game-calling.
So far, so good. But the situation isn’t quite so simple.
Jeffers is entering his final year of team control, set to make $6.7 million in 2026, and there’s no indication an extension is on the horizon. Meanwhile, the Twins traded for Alex Jackson back in November to serve as a backup, and earlier this month, they locked him in for $1.35 million through arbitration. That’s three catchers on a roster with limited positional flexibility, and Jackson is out of minor league options-meaning he’d have to clear waivers to be sent down.
In a vacuum, $13.7 million for a solid catching trio isn’t outrageous. But this isn’t a vacuum-the Twins are working with a payroll that’s been slashed to around $100 million, down from $135 million in 2025 and a peak of $165 million in 2023. Every dollar matters, and that makes Caratini feel more like a luxury than a necessity-especially when the team has glaring needs elsewhere, most notably in the bullpen.
The idea of keeping three catchers on the active roster doesn’t align with how this team is built. There’s just not enough flexibility.
And paying Jackson $1.35 million to sit in Triple-A is a tough sell for a team pinching pennies. The Twins could try to move him, but it’s unclear what kind of return they’d get-he’s a 30-year-old journeyman with a .153 career batting average in the majors, acquired in exchange for minor league infielder Payton Eeles.
There’s also the possibility-one that can’t be ignored-that Caratini isn’t here to pair with Jeffers, but to replace him. Jeffers is likely gone after this season anyway, and if the front office sees an opportunity to clear $6.7 million off the books now, a trade could be coming.
That money could go straight into the bullpen, where the need is urgent. But if the plan is to roll with Caratini and Jackson as the catching duo, that’s a clear step down in overall quality.
Of course, the Twins could create payroll space in other ways. One questionable decision back in November was keeping Trevor Larnach at $4.475 million. Now, with Bell in the fold-another switch-hitter who’s stronger from the left side-Larnach adds to an already crowded group of lefty-hitting corner bats who don’t offer much defensively.
Caratini, when not catching, has logged time at first base and DH, which only deepens the logjam of lefty bats like Larnach, Bell, Matt Wallner, Alan Roden, Kody Clemens, and Edouard Julien. And that’s before factoring in top prospects like Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez, who are knocking on the door.
If the payroll were sitting comfortably at $135 million, spending $7 million on Caratini and $4.475 million on Larnach might be defensible. But with the budget trimmed to $100 million and obvious holes in the bullpen, it’s fair to question whether this is the best use of limited resources.
Let’s not forget-after the Twins traded away their top five relievers at the deadline, they posted a league-worst 19-35 record to close out the season. Since then, their biggest bullpen move has been acquiring Triple-A righty Eric Orze.
That’s not going to cut it. If the plan is to contend-or even just stay competitive-they need at least a couple of reliable veteran arms in the bullpen.
And fast.
Beyond the bullpen, the position player group doesn’t seem to fit together cleanly. With a four-man bench, roster flexibility is crucial, and right now the Twins are carrying three catchers, a glut of left-handed corner bats, and not nearly enough infield or center field depth behind injury-prone starters like Brooks Lee, Luke Keaschall, Royce Lewis, and Byron Buxton.
The right-handed platoon options to balance out the lineup are underwhelming, and the overall defensive profile of the team hasn’t improved from last year’s underwhelming showing. The depth just isn’t there, and with spring training only weeks away, the clock is ticking.
All of this points to a likely roster shakeup. Whether it’s to streamline the offense, make room for bullpen reinforcements, or both, the current construction doesn’t look sustainable.
Caratini is a solid piece. Bell can help.
But unless the Twins make a few more moves-especially on the pitching side-these additions won’t be enough to change the trajectory of a team that’s been trending in the wrong direction.
Pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers on February 12. If the Twins want to show they’re serious about competing in 2026, they’ll need more than just a new catcher-they’ll need to bring a couple of dependable arms with them.