The Minnesota Twins have revamped their catching situation this offseason, and new manager Derek Shelton is making it clear who will be the man behind the plate.
When the Twins agreed to a two-year, $14 million deal with Victor Caratini earlier this month, it raised eyebrows around the league, and questions surfaced about Ryan Jeffers' future with the organization.
However, Shelton put those concerns to rest at the team's annual media luncheon last week, making it crystal clear that Jeffers remains the primary catcher for Minnesota's 2026 campaign.
The announcement came as welcome news to a fanbase eager to see stability at the position.
"Jeffers is going to be the C1," said Shelton, who called Jeffers once the Twins agreed to their deal with Caratini. "We've talked to Victor about it. The thing we thought about is we get a guy who is going to play [well] behind Ryan, but he can play first, he can also DH."
Shelton's Communication Signals New Culture
The fact that Shelton reached out directly to Jeffers right after the Caratini signing shows the type of manager he intends to be.
That communication helped ease any anxiety for the 28-year-old, who had been the focus of trade speculation when the Philadelphia Phillies reportedly showed interest.
With Shelton confirming his role, Jeffers should be expected to catch around 100 games or more.
Jeffers is coming off a solid 2025 campaign where he hit .266 with nine home runs and 47 RBI in 464 plate appearances.
His power numbers dipped from the 21 home runs he hit in 2024, but he posted his highest batting average since 2020.
Caratini Brings Versatility
The addition of Caratini gives the Twins a serious upgrade over Christian Vazquez, who departed in free agency after struggling over his three-year stint in Minnesota.
The switch-hitting veteran hit .259 with a .728 OPS in 114 games with Houston last season, and his ability to play first base and designated hitter gives Shelton plenty of flexibility.
With Caratini earning $7 million, Jeffers making $6.7 million through arbitration, and Alex Jackson owed $1.35 million, the Twins have invested roughly $15 million in their catching corps.
Looking Ahead in the AL Central
The Twins finished the 2025 season with a 70-92 record, placing them fourth in the AL Central behind the division champion Cleveland Guardians.
It was a disappointing campaign that saw the front office conduct a massive trade deadline fire sale.
Now Minnesota is tasked with climbing back into contention in a division that saw Cleveland pull off a historic comeback after trailing by as many as 15.5 games.
The Detroit Tigers remain a threat after leading the division for most of the year, and the Kansas City Royals continue making moves.
For the Twins to return to the postseason, they need their catching tandem to produce while managing a young pitching staff that includes Joe Ryan, Pablo Lopez, and Bailey Ober.
Shelton has emphasized that Jeffers will be leading that charge with Caratini providing quality support.