The Minnesota Twins have made a notable addition behind the plate, agreeing to a two-year, $14 million deal with veteran catcher Victor Caratini. The move adds a versatile, switch-hitting presence to their roster and raises some intriguing possibilities for how the Twins might manage their catching situation - and potentially their first base depth - heading into 2026.
Caratini, 32, is coming off a solid two-year stint with the Houston Astros, where he proved to be a steady contributor both at the plate and behind it. Over 201 games, he logged 660 plate appearances, hitting .263 with a .329 on-base percentage and a .406 slugging mark.
That all adds up to a 108 wRC+ - meaning he was about 8% better than league average offensively. He also kept his strikeouts in check (17.9%) and chipped in 20 home runs, showing he can offer some pop without being a liability in the box.
Defensively, Caratini brings a mixed but useful profile. His pitch framing draws positive grades across major metrics, including FanGraphs, Baseball Prospectus, and Statcast.
His blocking skills get high marks as well. However, his ability to control the running game has been a bit more suspect - an area where Statcast and FanGraphs have been less kind.
Still, the overall package has been worth 2.7 wins above replacement over the past two seasons, per FanGraphs - a solid return for a catcher who wasn’t brought in to be a star but has consistently done his job.
Now he joins a Twins team that already has a capable starting catcher in Ryan Jeffers. Jeffers, a right-handed hitter, has shown pronounced platoon splits throughout his career.
He’s mashed lefties to the tune of a .270/.371/.475 line and a 138 wRC+, but his numbers drop off against right-handers (.226/.299/.396, 94 wRC+). That’s where Caratini’s switch-hitting profile becomes particularly valuable.
While he wasn’t dominant from either side last season, he was steady - posting a 108 wRC+ against lefties and a 104 wRC+ against righties. That kind of balance gives Minnesota flexibility in how they deploy their catchers and opens the door to a true timeshare or matchup-based approach.
Beyond catching duties, Caratini also brings some positional versatility. He’s logged over 460 innings at first base in his career - including nearly 100 last season - and could get some looks there in 2026.
The Twins are penciling in Josh Bell at first, another switch-hitter, but Bell struggled mightily against left-handed pitching last year (.151/.250/.302). While some of that may have been bad luck - a .162 BABIP against southpaws certainly didn’t help - the Twins would be wise to have a fallback option if those struggles continue.
Caratini could provide that insurance.
There’s also a long-term angle here. Jeffers is entering his final year of team control and is set to make $6.7 million in 2026.
If the Twins believe Caratini can take on more responsibility moving forward, they could look to trade Jeffers before he hits free agency. Such a move would be close to cash-neutral and could bring back value in the form of prospects or bullpen help - an area where Minnesota still has some needs.
Of course, that decision would have ripple effects. The Twins also have Alex Jackson on the roster, who was acquired from the Orioles in November and recently agreed to a $1.35 million salary to avoid arbitration.
Jackson is out of minor league options, so if the Twins keep both Caratini and Jeffers, Jackson could be the odd man out. If he were designated for assignment and passed through waivers, he could stick around as non-roster depth, though he’d have the right to elect free agency - at the cost of forfeiting his salary.
Jhonny Pereda is another depth option on the 40-man but still has minor league options remaining, making him a likely candidate to start the year in Triple-A.
At the end of the day, the Caratini signing is a smart, measured move for a Twins team trying to stay competitive while keeping an eye on payroll. Minnesota has trimmed salary since last season - including the high-profile departure of Carlos Correa and a near-total bullpen overhaul - and is reportedly aiming to open 2026 with a payroll around $115 million. With Caratini’s deal evenly split, RosterResource estimates the Twins are sitting at about $107 million, giving them some financial breathing room if they want to address other areas.
And with the catching market heating up, timing may have played a role here. J.T.
Realmuto re-upped with the Phillies, and Danny Jansen landed with the Rangers after they non-tendered Jonah Heim. That left Caratini as arguably the best remaining free-agent catcher on the board.
The Phillies reportedly viewed him as a fallback if they couldn’t retain Realmuto, and other teams - including the Astros and Red Sox - had shown interest. But the Twins moved quickly and decisively, locking in a player who fits both their short-term needs and long-term flexibility.
Now the question shifts to what comes next. Will Jeffers be moved?
Will Caratini take on a bigger role than expected? Or will the Twins roll with a tandem behind the plate while keeping their options open?
Whatever the answer, Minnesota just added a steady, experienced bat and glove to a roster that’s still taking shape - and in a tight AL Central, every smart move counts.