Could Philadelphia Phillies' Catcher Search Lead Them to Ryan Jeffers?

[old nurse]

11 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

Sanchez and Alfaro were both top prospects, consensus top 50 across all publications, for several seasons, and Stewart was a LHP, if he found success, he would have been a good throw-in - just goes to show that there is no such thing as a sure thing.

 

The year before he was traded Sanchez was shut down with right elbow inflammation.  That should have been a red flag.  Not even Prieler in San Diego trades a somebody who they think is going to be a top of the rotation pitcher for  years of another player. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

4 hours ago, old nurse said:

When Miami traded Realmuto they ended up with 2 failed prospects and a journeyman catcher they sold for cash. They also  bought more lottery tickets for the IFA class. In other words, they traded him for nothing. Jeffers for  low level prospects is also selling for nothing. Cody laid out the argument for not trading Jeffers 

Agreed. I'm ok with trading Jeffers, but not for High A or even AA prospects. It would have to be for guys who have at least mastered AAA, even better someone who just made the fringes of the MLB roster and who just needs the opportunity a contending team has a very hard time finding. Jeffers is the MN C for now.  A trade for prospects can be had at the deadline. No need to lower ourselves to that level now. 

[JD-TWINS]

3 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

And one season of that salary is something any team could absorb. 

Curious how this will change if the 2027 is affected. For example, if the season is delayed and starts in June, the QO then for 2027 would probably be half that right?

If Team (any team) can absorb $23M for a year, seems signing Realmuto for 2 years at $31M would make more sense - trade Jeffers and a young arm (Festa/Morris) somewhere for another player that’s ready now or has been successful in the Show……….same 2 years spend of near $31M for this year’s $6.6 plus next year’s $23M if it’s Jeffers in Arb & QO. …….??

[Cory Engelhardt]

9 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

If Team (any team) can absorb $23M for a year, seems signing Realmuto for 2 years at $31M would make more sense - trade Jeffers and a young arm (Festa/Morris) somewhere for another player that’s ready now or has been successful in the Show……….same 2 years spend of near $31M for this year’s $6.6 plus next year’s $23M if it’s Jeffers in Arb & QO. …….??

Yes, but that's only if Realmuto 1) Agrees to sign here and 2) comes at that amount.

 

Why would he sign here when Boston is in on him and probably offers 2/36 or more?

 

Something something bird in the hand right?

[JD-TWINS]

19 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Yes, but that's only if Realmuto 1) Agrees to sign here and 2) comes at that amount.

 

Why would he sign here when Boston is in on him and probably offers 2/36 or more?

 

Something something bird in the hand right?

Sure, if those are real, that’s his best move.

Obviously, my point is Twins positioning themselves to somehow justify offering Jeffers a QO has to have better alternatives!

[Twinsrtheworst]

3 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

TD: The Twins are going to trade Ryan, Lopez and Buxton. 

The Athletic: The Twins are not going to trade Ryan, Lopez and Buxton. 

TD: Okay, let's try an article on how the Twins are going to trade Garver...

Next TD article…. You or I may be traded.

[IndianaTwin]

1 minute ago, se7799 said:

Next TD article…. You or I may be traded.

I reached 10 years of service time on TD last February, so I’m going to invoke my 10-and-5 rights, particularly if it’s a trade to White Sox Daily. 

[Twinsrtheworst]

3 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

I reached 10 years of service time on TD last February, so I’m going to invoke my 10-and-5 rights, particularly if it’s a trade to White Sox Daily. 

Congratulations! My wife is looking at me wondering what I am laughing at.  Best comment ever.

[old nurse]

13 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

I reached 10 years of service time on TD last February, so I’m going to invoke my 10-and-5 rights, particularly if it’s a trade to White Sox Daily. 

I thought they traded you to Fish On First

[old nurse]

1 hour ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

Agreed. I'm ok with trading Jeffers, but not for High A or even AA prospects. It would have to be for guys who have at least mastered AAA, even better someone who just made the fringes of the MLB roster and who just needs the opportunity a contending team has a very hard time finding. Jeffers is the MN C for now.  A trade for prospects can be had at the deadline. No need to lower ourselves to that level now. 

Falvey said at the trade deadline he wasn’t going to trade Ryan unless he was blown away. On the other players he said MLB ready has to come back. That philosophy was followed.  After seeing the havoc injuries can cause hopefully he has learned not to trade for injured nor oft injured players unless they are at a bargain. 

[jorgenswest]

Beyond his individual value to the 2026 season Jeffers may bring additional value.

The Twins have a lot of young pitchers. Does his experience offer value in developing those pitchers? Does that value offset a few FV40 prospects?

[BillyBallLives]

1 hour ago, old nurse said:

Falvey said at the trade deadline he wasn’t going to trade Ryan unless he was blown away.

My fear is how little it takes to blow Falvey away. Just wish it was a pink slip. 

[Mike Sixel]

4 hours ago, 1985Fan said:

Jeffers is bad behind the plate. I think the Twins were noticeably better when Vasquez was catching. Vasquez was much better at calling games, blocking pitches, and throwing out runners. I know he didn’t hit last year at all, but I’d be ok if they signed Vasquez to a cheap one year deal. According to prospect experts, they have a top 100 catcher in the system. Go with a glove first catcher for another year until Tait is ready. Jeffers value is high now. The way he finished the year, he’ll hit himself out of any value by mid season. 

That's not actually true, if you believe in catcher ERA. 

Vazquez is one of the worst hitters in baseball history. No defense can make up for a guy that hits like a SP used to hit. 

[Mike Sixel]

6 hours ago, old nurse said:

When Miami traded Realmuto they ended up with 2 failed prospects and a journeyman catcher they sold for cash. They also  bought more lottery tickets for the IFA class. In other words, they traded him for nothing. Jeffers for  low level prospects is also selling for nothing. Cody laid out the argument for not trading Jeffers 

So, never make a trade because bad trades happen? I'm not sure your point here at all. How about Cruz for Ryan, does that prove you should always trade a guy with one year left?

[Twinsrtheworst]

6 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

This is where I am at. 

Very few are going to be comfortable with this. However, the Twins have to choose and this is the state of our catching as a result of our catching development issues so sleep in the bed youmade and focus on the other positions until they can produce their own Susac making the minimum. Or... Someone Better. 

If I am reading this correctly, you are saying we trade Jeffers, who we developed…so that the team can sleep in the bed they made…which is not developing a catcher. 

[Twinsrtheworst]

3 hours ago, IndianaTwin said:

I reached 10 years of service time on TD last February, so I’m going to invoke my 10-and-5 rights, particularly if it’s a trade to White Sox Daily. 

My first article I read from Twins Daily was regarding a the Johan trade I believe.  Can’t believe it was that long ago.  Didn’t create account till much later.

[old nurse]

4 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

So, never make a trade because bad trades happen? I'm not sure your point here at all. How about Cruz for Ryan, does that prove you should always trade a guy with one year left?

There is a big difference between the Cruz trade and the Realmuto trade that most people seem oblivious to. 

[Riverbrian]

2 hours ago, se7799 said:

If I am reading this correctly, you are saying we trade Jeffers, who we developed…so that the team can sleep in the bed they made…which is not developing a catcher. 

Yep... I believe you read that correctly.  

The only major league catcher that has been developed under Derek Falvey's leadership has grown old and is about to reach free agency. The only one over the 8 years since he and Thad Lavine took charge. Jeffers is the only drafted or IFA catcher signed under the Falvey's leadership to reach the major leagues. The only one and he went and got himself eligible for free agency on us and we still have our pants down. 

Mitch Garver was considered a prospect already in house along with Ben Rortvedt. Both those catchers were traded and NOBODY was developed to replace them after they were traded. Nobody other than Jeffers since 2017!

If there is an organization with a worse catching development track record in the past 8 years? I'm not sure who that would be?

I'm not even talking about the development of a Williams Contreras type superstar. I'm talking about the lowest bar possible... a major league catcher who hits .200 but can call pitches, frame and just catch a game of baseball... even without a bat. We haven't even produced that guy. 

You read that correctly... I believe with all my heart... that they should just sleep in the bed that they made. Cash in Jeffers before you get nothing for him and punt the position for 2026 at least. 

I do not want them to spend any of our limited resources (financial or player capital) trying to fix this perpetual problem that they really haven't paid enough attention to for 8 years. 

They have a lot of things to fix. If they have to choose which problems to address and what has to wait or addressed with the force of a mouse. Catcher should be what waits.  

I don't know exactly how many major league catchers were drafted or signed since 2017 that have actually played in the major leagues. Someone would have to count but I'd guess over 100 and I'm probably undershooting by a lot. We have contributed 1 of them. 

Sleep in the bed you made. Alex Jackson and whoever (Pereda)...it is what it is. Turn your damn attention to Olivar, Cardenas, Tait, Diaw and Jimenez. You punt until you can produce one and they better start producing more than one... and soon.  

 

[old nurse]

4 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

That's not actually true, if you believe in catcher ERA. 

Vazquez is one of the worst hitters in baseball history. No defense can make up for a guy that hits like a SP used to hit. 

Yup, the Twins should never take a risk and sign a free agent because all they do is decline 

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, old nurse said:

Yup, the Twins should never take a risk and sign a free agent because all they do is decline 

I was literally responding to signing Vazquez again. I'm not sure your point.

[Mike Sixel]

4 minutes ago, old nurse said:

There is a big difference between the Cruz trade and the Realmuto trade that most people seem oblivious to. 

I'm not sure what the Realmuto trade has to do with this one? 

[Riverbrian]

5 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

Beyond his individual value to the 2026 season Jeffers may bring additional value.

The Twins have a lot of young pitchers. Does his experience offer value in developing those pitchers? Does that value offset a few FV40 prospects?

Maybe... if a catcher is instrumental in the growth of young pitchers and those young pitchers actually develop due to a seasoned catcher. He would be worth more than a few FV40 prospects. 

However... If his experience offer's value in developing pitchers... he can't be the only one. If that part can be replaced with an Alex Jackson... we are back to simply considering a player with trade value that will be gone next year. Spending the last year with the a 2026 club that has a lot of holes that need filling. 

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

Yep... I believe you read that correctly.  

The only major league catcher that has been developed under Derek Falvey's leadership has grown old and is about to reach free agency. The only one over the 8 years since he and Thad Lavine took charge. Jeffers is the only drafted or IFA catcher signed under the Falvey's leadership to reach the major leagues. The only one and he went and got himself eligible for free agency on us and we still have our pants down. 

Mitch Garver was considered a prospect already in house along with Ben Rortvedt. Both those catchers were traded and NOBODY was developed to replace them after they were traded. Nobody other than Jeffers since 2017!

If there is an organization with a worse catching development track record in the past 8 years? I'm not sure who that would be?

I'm not even talking about the development of a Williams Contreras type superstar. I'm talking about the lowest bar possible... a major league catcher who hits .200 but can call pitches, frame and just catch a game of baseball... even without a bat. We haven't even produced that guy. 

You read that correctly... I believe with all my heart... that they should just sleep in the bed that they made. Cash in Jeffers before you get nothing for him and punt the position for 2026 at least. 

I do not want them to spend any of our limited resources (financial or player capital) trying to fix this perpetual problem that they really haven't paid enough attention to for 8 years. 

They have a lot of things to fix. If they have to choose which problems to address and what has to wait or addressed with the force of a mouse. Catcher should be what waits.  

I don't know exactly how many major league catchers were drafted or signed since 2017 that have actually played in the major leagues. Someone would have to count but I'd guess over 100 and I'm probably undershooting by a lot. We have contributed 1 of them. 

Sleep in the bed you made. Alex Jackson and whoever (Pereda)...it is what it is. Turn your damn attention to Olivar, Cardenas, Tait, Diaw and Jimenez. You punt until you can produce one and they better start producing more than one... and soon.  

 

Appreciate your frustration but just getting rid of Ryan Jeffers without anyone to take his place is a bit of biting your nose off to spite your face or whatever that saying is. 

Falvey & Sons were hired in the first week of 2016. He is more than 2 months into his 10th year guiding the Twins. It really is incredible. There is a real bromance between DK and the Pohlad fellas. My guess is that Falvey is a really nice guy. I cannot think of a single other reason he would still be employed.

Byron Buxton is the sole legitimately established position player on the Twins roster. He is also the last remaining player from before Falvey arrived. Not a single player drafted and developed by the current regime has made even one All Star Game. This has to be a record for any POBO/GM for a 10 year period.

So the Twins have to keep Ryan Jeffers no matter what happens because he is almost certainly the last and only hope for Derek Falvey's career as 2026 will be his last year in baseball.

[old nurse]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm not sure what the Realmuto trade has to do with this one? 

You brought up the Cruz trade, why are you wondering what it has to do with Realmuto. You brought it into the discussion. 

[Riverbrian]

19 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Appreciate your frustration but just getting rid of Ryan Jeffers without anyone to take his place is a bit of biting your nose off to spite your face or whatever that saying is. 

You have to bite your nose off... umm... some place... umm...  on your body... somewhere. 

I understand... it's hard to look at this catcher grand canyon and say make it worse and just leave it. But... Yeah... off goes the nose. 

They can't fix all of their needs with their limited resources... if they try to address everything... it would require serious dilution of the talent needed to just cover everything paper thin. No more paper thin... please. We've done paper thin... it's how we got here... I want my ham sliced thick. 

The Twins will have to choose where they place resources. Some things will be left behind.

If they have to choose and they do.

This is the position to just grab some catchers cheaply that can catch, throw and call a good game. Any offense at all is just a bonus. 

And think about that... we've haven't even produced the major leaguer equivalent to what I am currently asking for... just to punt the position. 

 

[old nurse]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

I was literally responding to signing Vazquez again. I'm not sure your point.

Vasquez pretty much OPS .700 before coming to the Twins. Please be so kind if you are going to bash the Twins for signing him how they were to know that his bat would fall off that quickly. Since you are so opposed to this deal, the only way to avoid that situation is to not sign free agents 

[old nurse]

2 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

Yep... I believe you read that correctly.  

The only major league catcher that has been developed under Derek Falvey's leadership has grown old and is about to reach free agency. The only one over the 8 years since he and Thad Lavine took charge. Jeffers is the only drafted or IFA catcher signed under the Falvey's leadership to reach the major leagues. The only one and he went and got himself eligible for free agency on us and we still have our pants down. 

Mitch Garver was considered a prospect already in house along with Ben Rortvedt. Both those catchers were traded and NOBODY was developed to replace them after they were traded. Nobody other than Jeffers since 2017!

If there is an organization with a worse catching development track record in the past 8 years? I'm not sure who that would be?

I'm not even talking about the development of a Williams Contreras type superstar. I'm talking about the lowest bar possible... a major league catcher who hits .200 but can call pitches, frame and just catch a game of baseball... even without a bat. We haven't even produced that guy. 

You read that correctly... I believe with all my heart... that they should just sleep in the bed that they made. Cash in Jeffers before you get nothing for him and punt the position for 2026 at least. 

I do not want them to spend any of our limited resources (financial or player capital) trying to fix this perpetual problem that they really haven't paid enough attention to for 8 years. 

They have a lot of things to fix. If they have to choose which problems to address and what has to wait or addressed with the force of a mouse. Catcher should be what waits.  

I don't know exactly how many major league catchers were drafted or signed since 2017 that have actually played in the major leagues. Someone would have to count but I'd guess over 100 and I'm probably undershooting by a lot. We have contributed 1 of them. 

Sleep in the bed you made. Alex Jackson and whoever (Pereda)...it is what it is. Turn your damn attention to Olivar, Cardenas, Tait, Diaw and Jimenez. You punt until you can produce one and they better start producing more than one... and soon.  

 

56 have made it to MLB, 14 have been productive,

[Mike Sixel]

13 minutes ago, old nurse said:

Vasquez pretty much OPS .700 before coming to the Twins. Please be so kind if you are going to bash the Twins for signing him how they were to know that his bat would fall off that quickly. Since you are so opposed to this deal, the only way to avoid that situation is to not sign free agents 

I didn't use it as an example not to sign any player. I used it as a reason not to sign that player. 

[Riverbrian]

2 minutes ago, old nurse said:

56 have made it to MLB, 14 have been productive,

Thanks for counting... but... there has to be more. 

102 catchers caught at least one inning in 2025 alone. That isn't even considering prior years. 

[old nurse]

37 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I didn't use it as an example not to sign any player. I used it as a reason not to sign that player. 

You did not answer the question of how were the Twins to know that a career 700 OPS player would fall off overnight. As you don’t have an answer for that and insist they should not have signed him, the only way to avoid that conundrum is to not sign any players. What’s so hard about that?