Twins Can Still Get Value From Ryan Jeffers This Winter

[LambchoP]

We should have traded him, it's pretty clear now that this isn't our year and we need to plan on competing in '27 and beyond. We could have gotten a top 100 prospect who was MLB or near MLB ready for Jeffers....

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, shimrod said:

This is where the Twins get it wrong. You're better off overpaying for an actually productive player than fielding an entire team of low cost players who cannot produce. Sure, you can't stock the entire team with overpriced players (unless you're the dodgers) but a couple don't hurt that much. No where near as much as the regular demoralizing losses. 

We're still paying Houston $10M/yr for relieving us of our last scratch and dent acquisition. Compared to that contract Jeffers for a year looks pretty good. 

EDIT: And let me add, my strong preference was to trade Jeffers at the deadline. Offering him the QO is a bad second option. I say it's better than letting him walk for nothing at all. 

 

Agreed. 

[saviking]

On 8/16/2026 at 9:48 AM, bean5302 said:

First, we don't know how Jeffers finishes the season. If he drops off in the last month and a half, making him the QO is probably reckless to begin with. It's a big overpay for his value based on historical career performance. Jeffers is probably a $15MM / AAV guy so you're almost giving him 2 years of pay for 1 year of play, and there's a high likelihood he accepts the massive overpay if he slumps down the stretch to more career-like performance.

Second, the QO probably doesn't exist on 12/1/2026 or later, and whatever compensation the Twins would receive in terms of draft picks may not exist in 2027. Right now, MLB is proposing grandfathering the 2026 CBA, but I don't know as that will stand. The MLBPA absolutely hates the QO compensation system. I mean hate hates it, and the owners need to use every bit of their leverage to try and get a salary cap/floor. The QO transfer of picks compensation will 100% go away if the cap/floor is implemented.

I think there's a good chance MLB removes grandfathering and teams making a QO this year should assume no draft pick compensation will be attached.

That really complicates things for sure. 

[darin617]

Jeffers should have been traded at the deadline. Offering him a QO depending on how he finishes the season is reckless.  If he accepts the QO they would have to trade Caratini and probably eat a good portion of the 10m remaining. Keeping both in 2027 would be like 34m. That's way too big of a percentage of team salaries even if they jumped to 150m.

[jorgenswest]

Do you think the Twins spend 23 million elsewhere if he doesn’t accept the QO? I don’t. I doubt they spend half of that. You can’t spend 23 million on one year deals. If he leaves they are likely to spend 7-10 million on a decline phase DH/1B and another 5 or so million in a couple of aging pitchers or a short side platoon outfielder. I would much rather have Jeffers and fill the other roster spots from within. It doesn’t matter if he isn’t worth it. They aren’t going to bring in a different 23 million dollar player. The 2027 team is going to be better and more interesting with Jeffers and the young players as opposed to adding three lower tier free agents.

[Mike Sixel]

13 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

Do you think the Twins spend 23 million elsewhere if he doesn’t accept the QO? I don’t. I doubt they spend half of that. You can’t spend 23 million on one year deals. If he leaves they are likely to spend 7-10 million on a decline phase DH/1B and another 5 or so million in a couple of aging pitchers or a short side platoon outfielder. I would much rather have Jeffers and fill the other roster spots from within. It doesn’t matter if he isn’t worth it. They aren’t going to bring in a different 23 million dollar player. The 2027 team is going to be better and more interesting with Jeffers and the young players as opposed to adding three lower tier free agents.

Dreamer. They'll bring in at least three mediocre veterans. The Twins way!