The Middle Matters Most for Minnesota Twins in 2026

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

When the Minnesota Twins have been at their best, they’ve been strong up the middle. Catcher, shortstop, second base, and center field are the backbone of any good defensive club, and the Twins will rely on a familiar mix of youth and experience to hold those spots next season. Each player offers something unique, but there are questions that the team will need to answer before Opening Day.

Catcher: Ryan Jeffers
Jeffers has transformed into one of the stronger offensive catchers in baseball. Last season, he finished near the top among backstops in several hitting metrics. His bat makes him a fixture in the middle of the Twins lineup, but his glove continues to lag behind. Jeffers posted a Fielding Run Value of -5 last season, including negative marks in Blocks Above Average (-4), Caught Stealing Above Average (-5), and Framing (-1). While the Twins value his ability to handle a pitching staff, there’s no denying that his defensive numbers impacted the team in 2025. He could be one major beneficiary of the implementation of the ball-strike challenge system in 2026, if he proves adept at challenging the right pitches.

Behind Jeffers, the Twins have a modicum of organizational depth but no clear-cut backup ready to push for meaningful innings. Mickey Gasper and Jhonny Pereda both saw time late in the season, but didn’t inspire much confidence. Prospects Ricardo Olivar, Noah Cardenas, and Patrick Winkel are all, intriguing but face the added challenge of Rule 5 eligibility if they remain off the 40-man roster. The Twins may need to bring in a veteran defensive specialist to complement Jeffers’s offensive upside.

Shortstop: Brooks Lee
Trading Carlos Correa opened the door for Lee to become the Twins’ everyday shortstop. Lee’s strong baseball instincts and quick decision-making were part of his resume when the Twins drafted him, but his defensive metrics suggest there’s room for improvement. He posted a -3 Fielding Run Value and -1 Outs Above Average at shortstop, though those numbers were better than his time at second base. While Lee lacks Correa’s range and arm strength, his reliability and poise could make him a steady option as he gains experience.

The Twins’ shortstop depth isn’t particularly good, which could prompt the front office to add a veteran utility option this winter. Ryan Fitzgerald and Payton Eeles provide short-term depth, while prospects Kaelen Culpepper and Marek Houston represent the future. Culpepper’s athleticism and Houston’s pure glove skills could make either player a factor within the next couple of seasons.

Second Base: Luke Keaschall
Keaschall is the most intriguing young player on Minnesota’s roster heading into next season. Long viewed as a versatile defender capable of moving around the diamond, he has been slowed in his development by injuries. Following Tommy John surgery and a fractured arm from a hit-by-pitch, Keaschall’s return to full strength was one of the few encouraging stories of 2025. His defensive results were mixed, with -2 Outs Above Average at second base, but his athleticism and adaptability remain promising.

Second base would be his ideal long-term home, although the Twins could still experiment with putting him in the outfield. Austin Martin and Edouard Julien both provide depth, though both players' defensive limitations make it more likely for the team to find other infield options. Kyle DeBarge and Jose Salas offer additional infield depth in the upper minors. Still, Keaschall’s development will play a key role in determining whether the Twins can solidify this position internally.

Center Field: Byron Buxton
When healthy, Buxton remains one of the best defensive players in the game. His 2025 season showcased that he can still make elite plays in center field, posting 3 Outs Above Average. However, there were subtle signs of decline, particularly in his first-step quickness and ability to cover balls in the gaps. The Twins aren’t ready to move him off center just yet, but with younger outfielders on the way, that decision could be looming in the next couple of years.

The organization’s outfield depth gives them options. Alan Roden and James Outman, two of the team’s trade deadline acquisitions, can each play center in a pinch, while Martin’s versatility allows him to shift around the outfield as needed. Later next season, top prospects Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez could make the conversation even more interesting. If Buxton continues to produce at the plate while maintaining his defensive value, the Twins will gladly let the future wait.

The Twins’ success next season may depend heavily on how well their up-the-middle defenders perform. This will become even more critical if the team trades away veteran pitchers and turns the rotation over to younger arms. Jeffers needs to tighten up his receiving. Lee must continue to grow into the shortstop role vacated by Correa. Keaschall will look to establish himself as a reliable everyday second baseman. Buxton remains the dynamic centerpiece of Minnesota’s defense. The group combines promise and uncertainty in equal measure, leaving the Twins with both optimism and plenty to prove heading into 2026.

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How do you feel about the Twins’ up-the-middle defense entering next season? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[DJL44]

Lee/Keaschall has a below-average defensive ceiling for a middle infield combo.

[Patzky]

4 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Lee/Keaschall has a below-average defensive ceiling for a middle infield combo.

Correa/Farmer is no longer an option.

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Lee/Keaschall has a below-average defensive ceiling for a middle infield combo.

I have this working theory that IF they trade Ryan to Boston, some order of players including Marcelo Mayer and Tristan Casas are coming back. IF Ramon Vazquez is brought on as coach, it's something that I absolutely could see. 

I don't know how all the other pieces fit (this offseason will be super interesting) but let's say by June you have Culpepper at 2b and Mayer at SS. The Twins front office have been linked to Casas for a time, but who knows what he has with his injury history.

All of this is to say that I'll probably change my opinion at some point here, but that up the middle is more interesting to me than Lee and Keaschall. Frankly Keaschall could move to 1B if he needs to and probably be pretty decent there in time.

All of what I wrote is to be taken with a large amount of salt here. But the 2b/ss combo could look a LOT different in June 2026 than it does today.

[DJL44]

8 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

But the 2b/ss combo could look a LOT different in June 2026 than it does today.

If they want to win, it needs to look different.

[NYCTK]

16 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I have this working theory that IF they trade Ryan to Boston, some order of players including Marcelo Mayer and Tristan Casas are coming back. IF Ramon Vazquez is brought on as coach, it's something that I absolutely could see. 

I don't know how all the other pieces fit (this offseason will be super interesting) but let's say by June you have Culpepper at 2b and Mayer at SS. The Twins front office have been linked to Casas for a time, but who knows what he has with his injury history.

All of this is to say that I'll probably change my opinion at some point here, but that up the middle is more interesting to me than Lee and Keaschall. Frankly Keaschall could move to 1B if he needs to and probably be pretty decent there in time.

All of what I wrote is to be taken with a large amount of salt here. But the 2b/ss combo could look a LOT different in June 2026 than it does today.

 There's not a chance in hell Marcelo Mayer would be considered in a Ryan trade. But I take your point. I can see the Twins SS or 2B coming from a Ryan trade. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

Just now, NYCTK said:

 There's not a chance in hell Marcelo Mayer would be considered in a Ryan trade. But I take your point. I can see the Twins SS or 2B coming from a Ryan trade. 

I have no idea if it would be accepted or not. But the caliber of prospect that typically get a playoff level starting pitcher (that isn't a free agent to be) has been high end. That's all. 

But yeah, it could be elsewhere too. And Boston having Story at SS makes it a move that could be plausible. But yeah, I don't know if that'd be agreed to by any means.

[NYCTK]

Just now, Cory Engelhardt said:

I have no idea if it would be accepted or not. But the caliber of prospect that typically get a playoff level starting pitcher (that isn't a free agent to be) has been high end. That's all. 

But yeah, it could be elsewhere too. And Boston having Story at SS makes it a move that could be plausible. But yeah, I don't know if that'd be agreed to by any means.

Ryan is a pretty good #2. He'd need to be a #1 for that to happen. If the Skubal negotiations go sour, I could see the Red Sox being in on him and Marcelo being one of 3 legit pieces for him. 

But, for reference, the Red Sox just traded for Crochet (also with 2 years of control) but as a true #1. They sent off 4 players, including their #3 #7 and #19 prospects (50, 50, 45 FVs). Marcelo Mayer is that next step above and wouldn't be traded for a lesser pitcher.

[Cory Engelhardt]

4 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Ryan is a pretty good #2. He'd need to be a #1 for that to happen. If the Skubal negotiations go sour, I could see the Red Sox being in on him and Marcelo being one of 3 legit pieces for him. 

But, for reference, the Red Sox just traded for Crochet (also with 2 years of control) but as a true #1. They sent off 4 players, including their #3 #7 and #19 prospects (50, 50, 45 FVs). Marcelo Mayer is that next step above and wouldn't be traded for a lesser pitcher.

I would argue that Teel and Montgomery are/were very much in the realm of what Mayer can be. But I see your point. It was JUST a dart throw idea I had. Plus with Boston having Story at SS and Franklin Arias arguably ready in 2027, Mayer to me is someone that could get moved by them. But yeah, I'm not saying that the Twins need Mayer to trade Ryan, but I also think the rumors of the Twins accepting a LOT less than that is going to be crazy too.

 

[Chembry]

3 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I have this working theory that IF they trade Ryan to Boston, some order of players including Marcelo Mayer and Tristan Casas are coming back. IF Ramon Vazquez is brought on as coach, it's something that I absolutely could see. 

I don't know how all the other pieces fit (this offseason will be super interesting) but let's say by June you have Culpepper at 2b and Mayer at SS. The Twins front office have been linked to Casas for a time, but who knows what he has with his injury history.

All of this is to say that I'll probably change my opinion at some point here, but that up the middle is more interesting to me than Lee and Keaschall. Frankly Keaschall could move to 1B if he needs to and probably be pretty decent there in time.

All of what I wrote is to be taken with a large amount of salt here. But the 2b/ss combo could look a LOT different in June 2026 than it does today.

Marcelo Mayer has a significant injury history as well.  

 

2 hours ago, NYCTK said:

 There's not a chance in hell Marcelo Mayer would be considered in a Ryan trade. But I take your point. I can see the Twins SS or 2B coming from a Ryan trade. 

There is no chance that the Red Sox part with Mayer if they can't bring Bregman back.  If they do bring Bregman back, I somewhat agree with your comments, but the likelihood is higher. This trade has been floated by many sources, even into October.  So it's not coming out of nowhere, but agree that the odds are very low:

https://www.si.com/mlb/red-sox/boston-red-sox-news/red-sox-blockbuster-trade-idea-swaps-marcelo-mayer-for-twins-all-star-jackson3

https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/red-sox-predicted-to-trade-marcelo-mayer-for-twins-all-star-10842973

 

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 minute ago, Chembry said:

Marcelo Mayer has a significant injury history as well.  

 

There is no chance that the Red Sox part with Mayer if they can't bring Bregman back.  I somewhat agree with your comments as well, but this trade has been floated by many sources, even into October.  So it's not coming out of nowhere, but agree that the likelihood is very low:

https://www.si.com/mlb/red-sox/boston-red-sox-news/red-sox-blockbuster-trade-idea-swaps-marcelo-mayer-for-twins-all-star-jackson3

https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/red-sox-predicted-to-trade-marcelo-mayer-for-twins-all-star-10842973

 

Agreed, I certainly didn't think of this 100% on my own. 

But yeah, IF they are trading Ryan (which I'm not advocating for, just saying) I'm firmly in the camp that they have to get help that would be here in 2026.

[NYCTK]

38 minutes ago, Chembry said:

Marcelo Mayer has a significant injury history as well.  

 

There is no chance that the Red Sox part with Mayer if they can't bring Bregman back.  If they do bring Bregman back, I somewhat agree with your comments, but the likelihood is higher. This trade has been floated by many sources, even into October.  So it's not coming out of nowhere, but agree that the odds are very low:

https://www.si.com/mlb/red-sox/boston-red-sox-news/red-sox-blockbuster-trade-idea-swaps-marcelo-mayer-for-twins-all-star-jackson3

https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/red-sox-predicted-to-trade-marcelo-mayer-for-twins-all-star-10842973

 

You're right, I was instinctively too forceful against that offer from @Cory Engelhardt. If it's just a Marcelo Meyer for Joe Ryan swap, I guess this wouldn't be ridiculous from the Red Sox. This was supposedly the hold up at the trade deadline too. The Red Sox were offering Tolle and others, but were holding out on offering any of Anthony, Mayer, or Campbell.

I still don't see it happening, but it's closer than I was thinking. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

6 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

You're right, I was instinctively too forceful against that offer from @Cory Engelhardt. If it's just a Marcelo Meyer for Joe Ryan swap, I guess this wouldn't be ridiculous from the Red Sox. This was supposedly the hold up at the trade deadline too. The Red Sox were offering Tolle and others, but were holding out on offering any of Anthony, Mayer, or Campbell.

I still don't see it happening, but it's closer than I was thinking. 

In my head I was starting with Mayer and Casas for Ryan, but I don't know how likely that's happening either. Just fun to throw out ideas :)

[NYCTK]

10 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

In my head I was starting with Mayer and Casas for Ryan, but I don't know how likely that's happening either. Just fun to throw out ideas :)

Oh for sure. Way more fun than watching the Twins this season, sadly. But that's the beauty of baseball. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

6 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Oh for sure. Way more fun than watching the Twins this season, sadly. But that's the beauty of baseball. 

There is always next year, or at least that's what I still tell myself

[mikelink45]

I don't speculate on trades - we have so many dream scenarios.  I only look at what we know and right now this is not a championship up the middle combination.  Let's hope Buxton retains his speed and quality so one of the positions is above average. 

In the minors I see Marek and Culpepper at least a year away.  Beyond that not much and if you are still looking at Julien we are in big trouble and Martin is not going to raise the bar either. 

[Major League Ready]

4 hours ago, NYCTK said:

 There's not a chance in hell Marcelo Mayer would be considered in a Ryan trade. But I take your point. I can see the Twins SS or 2B coming from a Ryan trade. 

Arias and Witherspoon seems steep but it couldn't hurt to float it.  The fact I really like it tells me it's a real longshot.

[Doctor Gast]

Up the middle is priority. There, the priority of up the middle is defense.  Any offense is icing. We can lose more runs than you gain by having a less-than-desirable premium middle. IF you want dependable offense, look to the other position, especially DH, 1B & RF. The problem is that we think it's OK with less offense at these positions & expect more offense from the premium positions. Once you receive the offense that's required at these inferior positions, we don't have to be so concerned with it at the premium positions.

CF is our only acceptable premium position defensively. We have Buxton to anchor it with good present & future depth.

SS is below average but solid, with questionable present depth but hopeful future depth.

2B is below average but solid with questionable present & future depth (I'm not even including Julien as an option). Lee, Culpepper & Houston if not playing SS, profiles much better at 3B than able to help us out at 2B.

Catcher is our worst position. Jeffers is an above-average offensively but he's our worst defensive starting player at where I consider our most prime position. But the worse part is our present & future depth is horrible.

You want the best defensive player at each of those premium positions. If you don't have them, go get them. 

[DocBauer]

Are we talking to open the season, or are we talking in the future? Maybe even the near future? That changes my opinions for sure. 

And I prefer to stay out of trade scenarios as they are so arbitrary. 

CATCHER: Nobody is ready to replace Jeffers. In fact, they need to spend a few $M to find a decent backup as well who can catch 35% of the games in 2026. And trade ideas mess with my head. We trade prospects for a different catcher that might cost the same, or more, $ plus prospects? I'm not sure I see reasoning there.

So at least in the short term, the Twins have a solid, experienced game caller with a better than average bat. Way better than average for a backstop. With a little more time, Cardenas or someone else might step up as a viable ML catcher to at least help. But starting help is a good 2yrs away. 

But having the bat and experience of Jeffers behind the plate is a good place to start, for now, at least to begin 2026.

SHORT STOP: I don't believe anyone believed Lee was a ML SS on any long term basis when drafted. Seems to me he was always going to end up at 3B or 2B. And that can still happen with different speculative views of the INF. I believe he's got the basic instincts, hands, transition ability, and enough arm to handle SS for opening day, with room to still improve. 

I think we often forget how young and truly inexperienced he is as a 24yo simply because he was a hyped high draft choice. My biggest disappointment so far is his bat. He's showing some power, and some ability to hit for sure. But he's been almost "Miranda-like" in a false confidence to trust his bat to ball contact ability that ends up with too much WEAK contact. BUT, he actually seems to recognize this issue. The question remains if he can go beyond recognition and actually FIX the issue. If he does, his BAT suddenly starts to increase his worth as a ML INF.

IMO, he's not only OK to begin 2026 as the Twins SS, but I wouldn't be surprised if he looked smoother, and we saw at least a small uptick in AVG, OB, K, and BB numbers. And again, I can see different INF configurations of him at 3B or 2B at some point. 

What I see as ideal, MY OPINION, is improvement in his BAT and overall glove work and he becomes a quasi-starter across the entire INF. No reason he can't end up as a solid backup 1B in addition to the other 3 spots.

He OPENS as the 2026 SS but he gives way to K-Pepper by July 1st. Frankly, Culpepper is quicker, faster, more athletic, has a stronger arm, and should be the superior defender. So that addressed OPENING 2026, but looking down the road a bit with a better starting option.

Houston is a couple years away from challenging. Unless they uncover a "Castro" surprise, or spend a little $ on what will undoubtedly be a limited budget, Fitzgerald and Eeles provide immediate depth. That isn't great, but I don't believe Fitzgerald will embarrass himself as a temporary option. And if Eeles has his legs back under him 100%, he might surprise as a depth option.

But it's Lee to begin next season, though I don't believe he finishes 2026 there. That improves the defense, and the depth.

SECOND BASE: Keaschall has more than enough quickness, speed, and athleticism to make plays at 2B. We all know how the bat/offense plays. But some of his throws have been bad, and he's looking mechanical fielding the ball at times. But the TJ recovery and subsequent broken forearm has really messed with his ability to get repetition at 2B for 2 full years now. I have no doubt he's going to be at least average at 2B in short order. He might even become very good with a little more time and work.

He's just not Julien at 2B.

Speaking of Julien, I'm not convinced he's even back for 2026, though there might be enough 40 man room to keep him around for now. But Fitzgerald and Eeles also figure in to depth at 2B for 2026. Again, Lee may also down the road when K-Pepper comes up. 

But when we talk about up the middle defense and players and depth, I think Schobel should be included. He was a major disappointment in 2024. But this past season he really took off! Unfortunately, right after his promotion to St Paul he was hurt and didn't appear again until very late in the season. But I don't think he should be written off. 

SS/2B PROGNOSIS: Lee and Keaschall to start the 2026 season, which isn’t great to start the season. OK, not horrible, but not great.

But a couple months in to the 2026 season? Keaschall is starting to feel comfortable again at 2B. Culpepper is up and flashing and Lee starts the transition to Super Sub. Fitzgerald might perform better than expected and stick around, but IDEALLY, Eeles is back to his fully healthy 2024 self and is an almost direct replacement for Castro. Additionally, Schobel is doing great at St Paul and we suddenly feel a lot better about the INF and depth.

Further down the line, since they've been brought up, DeBarge is doing well, as are Salas and DeAndrade. Why wasn't DeAndrade mentioned in the OP? He's very talented, still young, and just needs to stay healthy. He might just jump a few others in 2026 and rise again in prospect rankings.

CENTER FIELD: Well, this is obviously a healthy Buxton. My only wish is that he "accepts" being a #2 or #3 hitter so he has more runners to knock in. He doesn't even have to be as good as he was in 2025 to be a stud and potential All Star. He remains an excellent CF defender, though I'm thankful he finally decided he didn't have to sacrifice his body on a daily basis.

Obvious depth is Rodriguez being healthy, having a good Winter League, and a good ST and just taking over a corner spot...maybe RF and let Wallner DH primarily...and run with the opportunity, even with some ups and downs. Right behind him is Jenkins, oh so close to his debut.

Futher depth would be Martin. Can't believe I'm saying this but, if Martin could improve even half as much as he's improved in LF over last season, he might be a viable backup in CF. Roden and Fedko are additional options "as needed" but not part of great or future depth. That belongs to Rodriguez and Jenkins, with the possibility of Winokur a few years off.

FINAL ANALYSIS:

CATCHER is fine for 2026 with a decent backup. Long term is very interesting. Mid term is a mess without an extension of Jeffers, OR, another Suzuki, Vazquez type signing for 2027. But the future looks bright if we can find a bridge.

INFIELD IN TOTAL: Way worse defense than we'd all like for opening day. Much better mid season when Keaschall is more comfortable and Culpepper comes up to flash with the bat and glove and move Lee to his super utility spot. And there are some very nice depth pieces on their way.

CENTER FIELD: Buxton is THE MAN, and very well could be for a couple more seasons. But Rodriguez and Jenkins are just behind him and for the first time in years, the FO doesn't have to look for a fill in type of player. They should dump Keirsey and Outman man from the 40 man...just admit Outman was a mistake and offer either a MILB deal...and realize Roden and Fedko are just younger and have more potential...and roll with the younger players/prospects.

So SHORT TERM and LONGER TERM there ARE solid option UP THE MIDDLE. But there is a difference from Opening Day vs July 1st.

 

 

 

[rv78]

If up the middle is the most important then the Twins have a long way to go. Didn't we have Correa and Buxton for a good chunk of the season and it still didn't matter.

In reality, defensively they are pretty weak at every position on the field except in CF when Buxton isn't hurt. Put his injury history into the equation and CF still doesn't look very solid. The bigger problem is that outside of an unproven Keaschall and an injury prone Buxton, the offense is just as much of a nightmare as the defense is. It's going to take more than 2 or 3 different players playing better defensively AND offensively to turn this team around. Everyone wants Lee and Lewis and Martin and Jeffers and (insert any Twins players name here) to play better defensively. But that isn't going to score you anymore runs. Which one of the aforementioned is going to become better offensively too? Improving the defense alone isn't going to make enough of a difference by itself. Falvey has to stop going after guys that hit .150 to .200. For some reason he thinks they can turn them into star players. Sorry, you can't make a silk purse out of a pigs ear.

[tony&rodney]

Up the middle? The current players? Offensively Jeffers is ok, Keaschall is still an unknown but shown bright at times last season when he played, Lee is below average, and Buxton is great. None of the current backups provide much at all with a bat. Defensively, Jeffers is below average, Lee is below average, Keaschall is coming back from injuries but below average at this time, and Buxton is ok but scored rated below average in 2025. None of the current backups are close to average. The future? We hope for improvement. This is the way it is at this moment in time. It isn't what I want to say but it is the truth. Change can always happen.

[dxpavelka]

Not sure why you are concerned about success next season.  The team is doomed.  Have you not been listening to the fan base?

[Otaknam]

They have drafted two shortstops recently, with Culpepper seeming to be ready. So I see no reason to bring in a veteran SS as a bridge for a season that is likely to be devoted to developing younger players. 

[Larry Janisewski]

On 10/20/2025 at 11:42 AM, Cory Engelhardt said:

I have this working theory that IF they trade Ryan to Boston, some order of players including Marcelo Mayer and Tristan Casas are coming back. IF Ramon Vazquez is brought on as coach, it's something that I absolutely could see. 

I don't know how all the other pieces fit (this offseason will be super interesting) but let's say by June you have Culpepper at 2b and Mayer at SS. The Twins front office have been linked to Casas for a time, but who knows what he has with his injury history.

All of this is to say that I'll probably change my opinion at some point here, but that up the middle is more interesting to me than Lee and Keaschall. Frankly Keaschall could move to 1B if he needs to and probably be pretty decent there in time.

All of what I wrote is to be taken with a large amount of salt here. But the 2b/ss combo could look a LOT different in June 2026 than it does today.

Interesting plan but who is going to catch?????

[The Great Hambino]

5 minutes ago, Larry Janisewski said:

Interesting plan but who is going to catch?????

For all their roster uncertainty, I think one of the biggest locks in terms of transactions they make this offseason is bringing in a Vasquez-ian veteran FA catcher on a one-year deal - maybe even Vasquez himself.

This mystery vet will be the backup to Jeffers (if he's kept) or have the inside track to the lion's share of starts while Pareda/Canterino/various vets with MILB contract offers compete for the rest.  A trade for a younger MLB-ready C could be a wild card here (although I think if they do bring in a guy like that, it makes it more likely that Jeffers is traded away), but I think it's a safe bet that a cheap-ish vet on a one-year deal will be factoring in at C in some way.

[Cory Engelhardt]

15 minutes ago, Larry Janisewski said:

Interesting plan but who is going to catch?????

That would be a separate transaction. They can certainly trade for someone, or they can sign someone. I'd prefer a strong defender back there, but with some ABS starting next year (at least where people can appeal a ball or strike) I'm curious how that will affect catchers who have historically been stronger at framing compared to blocking or throwing out runners.

[Cory Engelhardt]

40 minutes ago, The Great Hambino said:

For all their roster uncertainty, I think one of the biggest locks in terms of transactions they make this offseason is bringing in a Vasquez-ian veteran FA catcher on a one-year deal - maybe even Vasquez himself.

This mystery vet will be the backup to Jeffers (if he's kept) or have the inside track to the lion's share of starts while Pareda/Canterino/various vets with MILB contract offers compete for the rest.  A trade for a younger MLB-ready C could be a wild card here (although I think if they do bring in a guy like that, it makes it more likely that Jeffers is traded away), but I think it's a safe bet that a cheap-ish vet on a one-year deal will be factoring in at C in some way.

It very well could be a free agent. But I could easily see trading someone like Wallner or Ober or someone that the new coach doesn't see as part of the 2026 team to some team for a catcher too. 

I don't have any insight as to who that is. But I do think that's a possibility to look into prior to signing a free agent.

[The Great Hambino]

Just now, Cory Engelhardt said:

It very well could be a free agent. But I could easily see trading someone like Wallner or Ober or someone that the new coach doesn't see as part of the 2026 team to some team for a catcher too. 

I don't have any insight as to who that is. But I do think that's a possibility to look into prior to signing a free agent.

To be clear, I think it's possible - perhaps likely - that they get a young catcher in trade, and they absolutely should explore all avenues to get one there.  I just also think that if they do that, then the chances they trade Jeffers shoot way up.  That's why I'm as certain as I am that some form of cheap vet C will get brought in.  They either back up Jeffers, back up Young New Catcher, or split time with whatever else they can cobble together.  I don't see them getting a long-term Jeffers replacement and pairing him with Jeffers, just from an allocation-of-resources standpoint.  I'm assuming any vet they bring in will be on a cheaper deal than Jeffers' arb figure.

[Cory Engelhardt]

6 minutes ago, The Great Hambino said:

To be clear, I think it's possible - perhaps likely - that they get a young catcher in trade, and they absolutely should explore all avenues to get one there.  I just also think that if they do that, then the chances they trade Jeffers shoot way up.  That's why I'm as certain as I am that some form of cheap vet C will get brought in.  They either back up Jeffers, back up Young New Catcher, or split time with whatever else they can cobble together.  I don't see them getting a long-term Jeffers replacement and pairing him with Jeffers, just from an allocation-of-resources standpoint.  I'm assuming any vet they bring in will be on a cheaper deal than Jeffers' arb figure.

Agreed. I don't know at all that Jeffers is in the 2027 plans, so if they have a new starting catcher AND co-catcher or backup in 2026 that would not shock me.

[jorgenswest]

Baseball Savant’s list of 37 shortstops

I noticed on the bottom were the two shortstops from the teams in the ALCS. I noticed Brooks Lee at 23 of 37. I noticed he was just above Correa and also above Kiner-Falefa.

There were some bad plays at shortstop but is it possible that we don’t don’t the things he does well. Is he in a place where his shortstop play I. The major leagues will get better? Not sure. If he can hit at league average his play in the field at shortstop will be good enough. The Twins will have bigger problems.

Baseball Savant’s list of 46 second basemen

Keaschall is 32 of 46. It will probably be good enough if he hits. The wRC+ for all second base play was 90. The Twins already have a player on their roster who was above average fielder and above the 90 in wRC+ but in the roster. Kody Clemens is 19 of 46 and had a wRC+ of 98 with the Twins. His expected stats based in contact were also better than his actual stats with a xwOBA of .342 with the Twins compared to an actual wOBA of .307. Players with that difference often have improved actuals the next season. Keaschall’s xwOBA was .329. That was quite  bit below his actual but I his age and return to health should lead to significant improvement in quality of contact.

I would not sign a stop gap for shortstop or trade assets for a long term solution. I would bet on Lee, Keaschall and Clemens followed by Culpepper up the middle. There is a need for a back up shortstop. I would bring in competition for Fitzgerald. Kreidler is a start and should be solid defensively with little bat. I don’t think he will be the next Willi Castro. There are former top 100 players like Ezequiel Duran and Liover Peguero that will be out of options and could be DFA’d if they are looking for the next Willi Castro.