Why Did the Minnesota Twins Sign Victor Caratini?

[umterp23]

Not only Jeffers when he gets moved, but play poorly as a team and we very well lose Buxton, Ryan and Lopez. There isn’t a clear vision of competing with those four this year and next 2-3 years.

yes Buxton has a no trade, but he will want a chance to compete for a championship so he will look to go to a select spot he wants.

Lopez and Ryan aren’t signing long term. As much as we want them to be here, same rational with Buxton

twins mgmt slammed the door shut after playoff series win a few years back and blew up the roster last summer.

Long season ahead

[LambchoP]

I think they know we'll be out of contention at the deadline and this signing allows us to trade Jeffers a little easier. Any money that is left over NEEDS to go to relievers though. SerAnthony would be a good pickup. They need to do something because the FA relief market is closing up quick. I'd also like to see a few trades. Clean up our roster and get rid of some redundant position players to improve our relief corps, which is the worst part of our team easily.

[Sjoski]

12 hours ago, AlLagoon said:

I'd wager that if the Twins knew  Caratini would be available to them, they wouldn't have bothered with Jackson.

This makes no sense. 

Caratini became a FA on Nov. 2nd

Twins traded for Jackson on Nov. 21st.

If anything,  it tells me Falvey doesn't bother to put together a plan much less follow one.

[Jose Herrera]

Right now we are building a stable foundation for the next generation of players to add to. We need veterans like Bell and Caratini to add to our current group to keep our organization competitive. 

Culpepper, Gonzalez, Jenkins, Klein and Morris will all be ready to be called up within two seasons. These prospects are expected to add value, not come in and rebuild our foundation.

[Parfigliano]

3 hours ago, umterp23 said:

Not only Jeffers when he gets moved, but play poorly as a team and we very well lose Buxton, Ryan and Lopez. There isn’t a clear vision of competing with those four this year and next 2-3 years.

yes Buxton has a no trade, but he will want a chance to compete for a championship so he will look to go to a select spot he wants.

Lopez and Ryan aren’t signing long term. As much as we want them to be here, same rational with Buxton

twins mgmt slammed the door shut after playoff series win a few years back and blew up the roster last summer.

Long season ahead

Seasons.  Long seasons ahead.

[saviking]

Wonder if Jeffers could learn to play first base when hes not catching or DH>ING. 🫢

[DocBauer]

Only speculation on my part, based on how they've built rosters before, and without actually knowing the payroll ceiling:

1] Jackson isn't very expensive, cost little to get, and helped set a floor. The FO has done this before. A fairly recent example was Farmer before Correa. Farmer created an unexciting but decent floor, and then became a good utility player once Correa was brought on board.

2] Since this FO took over, the catcher position has been handled almost exclusively by Garver, Castro, Jeffers, and Vazquez. Caratini gives them a better all around player than Jackson, a better 60/40 time share option with Jeffers, can play a little 1B here and there when needed, and allows Jeffers to DH against LHP without having a black hole behind the plate when he does so.

3] Considering point #2, I'm not sure Jeffers is traded. Maybe at the deadline depending on how the team is doing, but I don't see the sense in keeping your core players in tact, but then moving Jeffers and turning catcher over to a 55-60 game starter and another backup who can't hit a link.

4] They strengthened catcher, and are only paying about $1M more for the position than they did last year. This might indicate the projected payroll is actually more like $115M-ish, and not $100M as some have conjectured.

 

[rv78]

4 hours ago, Jose Herrera said:

Right now we are building a stable foundation for the next generation of players to add to. We need veterans like Bell and Caratini to add to our current group to keep our organization competitive. 

Culpepper, Gonzalez, Jenkins, Klein and Morris will all be ready to be called up within two seasons. These prospects are expected to add value, not come in and rebuild our foundation.

Unfortunately even with the addition of Bell and Caratini, the Twins are NOT competitive. They weren't competitive with Correa and their supposed loaded bullpen. Adding a DH type 1Bman and a backup catcher won't improve them enough to even smell the playoffs much less make it. Sorry, but even if you didn't watch them play much in 2025, you'd know that.

And IF Culpepper, Gonzalez, Jenkins, and any other youngster you want to mention DOESN'T come in and form some sort of foundation this organization might as well fold up shop and retract because the current foundation of Buxton, Ryan, Lopez and Jeffers won't be around anymore.

[Cris E]

Yes because layoffs chances are based on who is at backup catcher.

There are a lot of parts to a team, and while they aren't all of equal importance you still need to  tend to your knitting up and down the roster. There was a crater at 1B and it's got a Bell in it now. They've stabilized catcher for a couple years. They couldn't do better at SS so they'll let Lee make his claim and see what the minors bring. It's not a Bond villain style plan, but it's steps in a direction.

They still have some questions to answer, like what to do with all the corner OF and who else is getting a spot in the pen. But there appears to be more money available than back in Nov so grabbing Siranthony makes a lot of sense and maybe moving Larnach for one more piece will put us at Truck Day in Feb.

 

[RpR]

It was NOT for his glove, maybe his amazing bat skills.👨‍🦲😂

 

[Riverbrian]

Many of you were asking for a catcher? Many of you were willing to commit limited resources to acquire that catcher. 

Congrats to those who wanted this hole addressed. I mean that sincerely. There is no snark intended. 

However... I can't join you in that celebration. The allocation of limited resources weighs heavy on my mind. 

About a month ago. December 10 to be exact. Dan Hayes reported that the Twins had about 20 million to spend.

It doesn't mean that the "league source" he mentioned is/was accurate. If the "league source" was close. We have spent 14 of that 20. 

Josh Bell produced a .741 OPS over 533 PA's at age 32 in 2025. That is valued at 7m for 1 year. 

Victor Caratini produced a .728 ZOPS over 344 PA's at age 31. That is valued at 7m for two years. 

Catchers play less, produce less and are consistent over pays. This is how we spend limited resources. 

We have segued from Vazquez at 10m for 3 years to Caratini at 7 million for 2 years. Thats progress but the budget remains limiting. 

Ryan Jeffers will probably be the top free agent catcher next year and we have spent 44 million addressing the 2nd catcher position over a span of 5 years.

Trading Jeffers and Larnach can create 11 million in payroll space to add to the 6 remaining. However they are running out of options to spend that 17 million on.

They could spend that 17 million on a trade upgrade. That will cost prospects most likely. 

[stringer bell]

Since 2023, the Twins have had one of  two guys behind the plate well over 95% of the time. However, Vazquez left after 2025 and Jeffers will be gone by November 1, 2026. The position had only fringe prospects in-house as of July 15, but that has changed with the acquisition of several minor league catchers including one Top 100 prospect. Now add in a capable major league catcher in Caratini.

The Twins have given a lot of limited resources for reshuffling and fortifying the catcher position. While @Riverbrian is as usual correct that catchers are overpaid for their production, I think their value is greater than the WAR produced since they are so involved with pitching as well as offense and defense. I think it is okay to pay that much for a capable or more than capable catching tandem. Beyond that, both Caratini and Jeffers might get playing time at first base and DH respectively, which would mean the $13.7M was spent on more than just the catching position. 

 

[USAFChief]

29 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Since 2023, the Twins have had one of  two guys behind the plate well over 95% of the time. However, Vazquez left after 2025 and Jeffers will be gone by November 1, 2026. The position had only fringe prospects in-house as of July 15, but that has changed with the acquisition of several minor league catchers including one Top 100 prospect. Now add in a capable major league catcher in Caratini.

The Twins have given a lot of limited resources for reshuffling and fortifying the catcher position. While @Riverbrian is as usual correct that catchers are overpaid for their production, I think their value is greater than the WAR produced since they are so involved with pitching as well as offense and defense. I think it is okay to pay that much for a capable or more than capable catching tandem. Beyond that, both Caratini and Jeffers might get playing time at first base and DH respectively, which would mean the $13.7M was spent on more than just the catching position. 

 

Giving Jeffers and/or Caratini playing time at first base and/or DH isnt a good thing.

 

[Riverbrian]

54 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Since 2023, the Twins have had one of  two guys behind the plate well over 95% of the time. However, Vazquez left after 2025 and Jeffers will be gone by November 1, 2026. The position had only fringe prospects in-house as of July 15, but that has changed with the acquisition of several minor league catchers including one Top 100 prospect. Now add in a capable major league catcher in Caratini.

The Twins have given a lot of limited resources for reshuffling and fortifying the catcher position. While @Riverbrian is as usual correct that catchers are overpaid for their production, I think their value is greater than the WAR produced since they are so involved with pitching as well as offense and defense. I think it is okay to pay that much for a capable or more than capable catching tandem. Beyond that, both Caratini and Jeffers might get playing time at first base and DH respectively, which would mean the $13.7M was spent on more than just the catching position. 

 

Due to catchers needing to working with pitchers... study film, call pitches, frame and all that stuff.

I can certainly justify the need to consider the defensive side of the equation.

However... With Jackson included the price tag is now 15 million for the position. We are currently $100 million in payroll commitments. So if my math is correct 15% of payroll committed to the position at this point.  

Only 3 teams are paying more at the moment and all 3 teams are paying more to one player making more. 

Dodgers - Will Smith will make 16M

Atlanta - Sean Murphy will make 15M

Phillies - JT Realmuto will make 15M

It should be pointed out that these teams have estimated payroll of 429, 263 and 281 million dollars. 

All of the 29 other teams have someone queued up at the position who make the minimum. 

I'm sure Caratini will be just fine in comparison with his catching peers. I don't have a problem with him personally. 

The allocation is a problem... the development is a problem. 14 million out of 20 million spent is a problem. 

Jeffers will have to be traded or this is ridiculous. 

 

[Riverbrian]

22 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Giving Jeffers and/or Caratini playing time at first base and/or DH isnt a good thing.

 

Especially since we spent 7 million on Bell. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

47 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

Especially since we spent 7 million on Bell. 

I don't get the obsession with having league average or below even, bats being used at 1B or DH. Have our expectations sunk that low? I love that we have Jeffers and his bat at C. But now I hear his name being thrown around for 1B even. He's played 5 innings in his entire professional career at 1B. He doesn't have a DH bat, or 1B. Caratini, I'm great with his bat playing at C. He doesn't have a DH or 1B bat however. And his glove work at 1B has been underwhelming to say the least. Now as you stated we have 15mil tied up at C. And that's where they should play. 

 

Many howl at the mention of Trevor Larnach DHing. But then promote Jeffers and Caratini for the at bats. Very poor use of roster spots happening here.

[Jose Herrera]

19 hours ago, rv78 said:

Unfortunately even with the addition of Bell and Caratini, the Twins are NOT competitive. They weren't competitive with Correa and their supposed loaded bullpen. Adding a DH type 1Bman and a backup catcher won't improve them enough to even smell the playoffs much less make it. Sorry, but even if you didn't watch them play much in 2025, you'd know that.

And IF Culpepper, Gonzalez, Jenkins, and any other youngster you want to mention DOESN'T come in and form some sort of foundation this organization might as well fold up shop and retract because the current foundation of Buxton, Ryan, Lopez and Jeffers won't be around anymore.

For a prospect to develop they need to compete to win playing time against other players and teammates. The veterans on our active roster and that we have acquired are all quality players.

Currently, trading all or some of them will hurt the development of Culpepper, Gonzalez, Jenkins, Klein and Morris. I doubt all of them are ready to replace the players corresponding to their positions on an MLB level but they are close. 

I would prefer to keep our veterans and transition gradually to our prospects.

[AlLagoon]

On 1/18/2026 at 11:07 AM, Sjoski said:

This makes no sense. 

Caratini became a FA on Nov. 2nd

Twins traded for Jackson on Nov. 21st.

If anything,  it tells me Falvey doesn't bother to put together a plan much less follow one.

My theory - the Twins expected him to get scooped up for more dough by a team with deeper pockets than the Twins. Time passed, he was still available, they made an offer and were rewarded.

I know the Polhads are cheap, but will they sweat a million or so? If Jackson agrees to be AAA depth, so much the better.