If Minnesota Twins Trade Ryan Jeffers, Whom Should They Sign to Play Catcher?

[Cory Moen]

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

With the latest reports taking focus away from Joe Ryan, Pablo López, and Byron Buxton, there are other Twins trade candidates to consider this winter, including catcher Ryan Jeffers. Is it possible the Twins could trade Jeffers, but hang on to the other players mentioned in rumors? If they go that route, they would need to sign a catcher to replace their erstwhile starter.

Jeffers split time with Christian Vázquez from 2023 through 2025, and absent a major addition, he's in line to take on a bigger role in 2026. While it might not make a ton of sense on the surface, there are a few options the Twins would have if they do move on from Jeffers. Let’s take a look at a trio of interesting mid-level free agents.

Danny Jansen
Jansen started the year with Tampa Bay and was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers near the trade deadline. He played in 98 games between the Rays and Brewers, hitting .215/.321/.399, which was good for a 101 OPS+. For comparison, Jeffers hit .266/.356/.397, which was good for an OPS+ of 108.

A burly 6-foot-1, Jansen, 30, put up 2.8 bWAR in 2025, compared with Jeffers's 1.2. If the Twins trade Jeffers, Jansen could make some sense on a one- or two-year deal, as a bridge to prospect Eduardo Tait. Minnesota acquired Tait as part of the return in the Jhoan Duran trade at the trade deadline, so they hope only to need a stopgap behind the plate.

Jonah Heim
Heim had a down year in 2025 and was non-tendered by the Texas Rangers last month, making him a free agent. He broke out in 2023, hitting for a 106 OPS+ and earning his first career All-Star nod. He won a Gold Glove the same season, and was the main catcher as the Rangers marched to their first-ever World Series title. Since then, he has not been as consistent offensively as he (or the Rangers) would have hoped. While he may be a downgrade offensively from Jeffers, he has shown the ability to be an above-average defender, and being solid behind the plate can mask being a below-average hitter. As the starting catcher, playing in 124 games, Heim hit .213/.271/.332 in 2025, which equates to a 77 OPS+.

While this is below average even for a catcher, if the Twins believe that Heim is a bounce-back candidate, they could get him for good value. The Rangers non-tendered him when he was projected to make in the ballpark of $6 million, so he will likely command less than that on the free-agent market. As a switch-hitter, he provides solid matchup value at a righty-dominated position.

Reese McGuire
In a backup role with the Cubs in 2025, McGuire hit .226/.245/.444 over 140 plate appearances. The Cubs non-tendered him after the season, and he was projected to make $1.9 million next season. If the Twins were to trade Jeffers, could they look to McGuire to split time with the recently acquired Alex Jackson? It sure seems like a plausible option. Offensively, in limited appearances, he was on par with the average catcher across the majors. Another positive in signing McGuire is that he grades out above average defensively, particularly as a framer and thrower. However, like Jackson, he has never handled a full starter’s workload, so he would be more likely to be a candidate to split duties than to play as much as Jeffers would.

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Do you think the Twins should trade Jeffers? And if so, whom should they sign to replace him?

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[#3Killer]

These “options” are a pretty convincing argument to getting Jefferson an extension- now!!!!

[IndianaTwin]

I get the idea of trading Jeffers so that he doesn't walk for nothing, but if the team is looking to add relievers and a power bat, it seems counterproductive to trade one of their existing power bats. 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/twins-rumors-relievers-power-bat-first-base-free-agency-trade.html

I also view catchers differently than other positions. With the number of young pitchers who will likely be part of the staff, there's also a value in continuity that comes with a returning catcher as opposed to bringing in two new receivers for them to work with. 

So no, don't trade Jeffers other than the whole "yeah, we'll listen to offers in case we get blown away" concept.*

 

*But don't expect to get blown away. He's good, but he's not that good. 

[bunsen82]

This trade just seems dumb.  There has been literally 0 rumor mill that the Twins are trading Jeffers.  Actually the opposite they have came out and said they plan to run him as affectively a full time catcher rather than a split role with Vasquez.

[Cory Engelhardt]

I can't be the only one who ONLY thinks about one specific situation that happened when I see Reese McGuire's name, am I?

[mickster]

35 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

This trade just seems dumb.  There has been literally 0 rumor mill that the Twins are trading Jeffers.  Actually the opposite they have came out and said they plan to run him as affectively a full time catcher rather than a split role with Vasquez.

I agree with that, and if we could get Vasquez back on a minimal deal would endorse his return as well.

 

[bunsen82]

12 minutes ago, mickster said:

I agree with that, and if we could get Vasquez back on a minimal deal would endorse his return as well.

 

The value of Jeffers on 1 year deal is somewhere between $10 to $15 million.  If he performs really well,  we have some options at the end of the year.  If he performs as he has been,  we may resign him,  The players remaining on free agency or the cost to trade for a very good catcher is likely prohibitive.  Best to just run with Jeffers and see what the year brings.  

[Dawgzilla]

None of them.  Contreras of the Cards would be nice.

[Dman]

I just don't see them trading Jeffers unless the return is substantial and it seems unlikely the return would be substantial.  They made enough trades at the deadline for young arms that they really can't afford to carry anymore of them on the 40 man.  Bats in the wings are Rodriguez, Gonazalez, and maybe Culpepper or Jenkins with a crowded 26 man outfield currently.  What would they need more than catcher?  So why trade a catcher who is currently a good value if they are planning on competing this year?  

I mean sure if your blowing things up why not get value for everything you can, but that's not what they say they are doing.  I feel pretty confident they just hang onto Jeffers at least until the deadline.  We'll see how this team looks then.

[High heat]

I don’t think trading Jeffers just to sign a lesser option for 1 yr makes much sense. 
 

I wouldn’t mind if you traded for a catcher with more team control. I’d like to know what Pittsburgh would ask for Henry Davis. 

 You would have to get something decent for Jeffers tho

[The Great Hambino]

If they're really not trading Lopez/Ryan/Buxton, then trading Jeffers makes no sense to me.  It seems like each replacement option would either be more expensive or a downgrade from Jeffers.  Trying to thread that needle, even if deploying those resources elsewhere, would be getting too cute.  Things don't go well when Falvey tries to get cute

[Jacksson]

To all of you advocating a Jeffers extension, his agent is Scott Boras.  Use your heads!!

Boras does not advocate extensions for players heading to free agency.

When he reaches free agency, Jeffers won't come cheap.  And CHEAP is the direction this organization is heading - even more so than in the past  The only way to receive ANY value from Jeffers is to trade him BEFORE he becomes a free agent and NOTHING is received.

[CRF]

Johnny Bench.

[Doctor Wu]

12 hours ago, Jacksson said:

When he reaches free agency, Jeffers won't come cheap.  And CHEAP is the direction this organization is heading - even more so than in the past  The only way to receive ANY value from Jeffers is to trade him BEFORE he becomes a free agent and NOTHING is received.

I think this may be a huge factor in what the Twins decide to do. I didn't think trading Jeffers would be a wise move, mainly due to the dearth of catching talent in our system, but the idea of trading when he has value, fully knowing that he likely will NOT sign an extension, does make a lot of sense. Hey, see what another team offers and see what happens. 

[tony&rodney]

The Twins should just let Jeffers play out his last year as a Twin this year. 

If they MUST trade him, which they shouldn't have to, try to get Tre' Morgan from Tampa Bay. 

For catching, use Noah Cardenas, maybe pick up (trade) Ben Rortvedt from the Reds.

[Otaknam]

Trading Jeffers is just click bait. The team has no catcher depth ready for the big leagues, and they have a lot of young arms trying to get there. Stability at catcher is more important right now than adding potential strength at some other position, like first base, while weakening catcher. 

[spanman2]

18 hours ago, CRF said:

Johnny Bench.

I'd say the Buck Ninety Fan Club Inspiration but he is already employed.  

[ashbury]

On 12/9/2025 at 11:50 AM, bunsen82 said:

The value of Jeffers on 1 year deal is somewhere between $10 to $15 million.  If he performs really well,  we have some options at the end of the year.  If he performs as he has been,  we may resign him,  The players remaining on free agency or the cost to trade for a very good catcher is likely prohibitive.  Best to just run with Jeffers and see what the year brings.  

This sounds about right.  The folks who view each player solely through the lens of their trade value, and who want to "trade high," are overlooking the actual value that a year of play each player brings to the team.

It would have been easy to garner an absolute haul in return for Kirby Puckett after 1986.  "His value will never be higher!"