Minnesota Twins Sign Catcher Victor Caratini to Two-Year Deal

[sweetmusicviola16]

4 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

With Jackson out of minor league options I think this greatly increases the odds of Ryan Jeffers being traded before opening day.  Caratini and Jeffers would have made a decent tandem, but now the Twins can bring back something of good value with a Jeffers trade without losing him for nothing.

It's too bad the Realmuto news broke before the Twins signed Caratini.  It would have been more interesting with the Phillies bidding on Jeffers as well.

 Interesting note by chpettit19 about the Twins having the 10th and 12th highest paid catchers in baseball for 2026.  I don't think that's the plan going forward, thus making a Jeffers trade all the more likely.  

All in all, I like this move, especially if it results in a Jeffers trade that brings a worthy return.  

I too still like the signing. But the team now has 14.5mil tied up in the C position. Honestly that's too much for a team with budget constraints. So I also look for a Jeffers trade, I conjecture in the next 4 weeks as having a C work with the pitchers throughout all of ST is preferred. But where I don't like the signing is if all 3 are kept meaning Jackson is taking a badly needed roster spot to be an emergency C and if either Jeffers or Caratini is plugged into the DH or 1B role with any regularity beyond a rare game here and there. No one if they are being honest about it can support playing league average hitters at 1B or DH is a good idea. If having all 3 around for 2026 does end up being the plan its a horrible one imo. 

[jorgenswest]

They are spending money at catcher because they failed to develop them or acquire them pre arb. Long term that has been addressed with the three teenagers they have acquired. Short term they are spending more at catcher. By 2028 they may have two pre arb catchers on the roster.

I have no problems with them spending the dollars on Caratini or spending 15 million dollars on the position. Four and five years ago they were constantly spending to try to fill the back of the rotation with guys like Happ, Shoemaker, Bundy, Archer and others. Now they have younger guys in the back end of the rotation and catcher needs addressing.

[bunsen82]

On 1/17/2026 at 1:35 PM, jorgenswest said:

They are spending money at catcher because they failed to develop them or acquire them pre arb. Long term that has been addressed with the three teenagers they have acquired. Short term they are spending more at catcher. By 2028 they may have two pre arb catchers on the roster.

I have no problems with them spending the dollars on Caratini or spending 15 million dollars on the position. Four and five years ago they were constantly spending to try to fill the back of the rotation with guys like Happ, Shoemaker, Bundy, Archer and others. Now they have younger guys in the back end of the rotation and catcher needs addressing.

I would much rather spend money to get a decent catching tandem than spending on FA pitching.  $7 million just got you a pretty decent backup.  $7 million for a SP will get you a wet rag.   Paddack,  Anderson, Montas and Perez.   Ugg  

As to the trade market for Catcher.  There have now been 3 different articles I have read about the dearth of options for catcher needy teams.   Red Sox, Rays, Padres, Astros.   With the remaining options being Heim and Sanchez.  Garver really isn't an option anymore.   If the goal was to trade Jeffers,  this is the market you want want to do it in.  If Jackson is no longer in the plans he can easily be flipped for potential more/better fit than Eeles.  

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/