The Twins secure a seasoned switch-hitter with power and defensive skills.
The Minnesota Twins are adding some pop behind the plate.
FanSided's Robert Murray reported Thursday that the club has agreed to a two-year, $14 million deal with catcher Victor Caratini, giving them a proven bat to pair with starter Ryan Jeffers heading into the 2026 season.
It's a somewhat surprising move for a team that already had Jeffers entrenched as the everyday catcher, but after finishing 70-92 and fourth in the AL Central last year, the Twins clearly aren't content to stand pat.
Minnesota went through a full-blown fire sale at the trade deadline last summer, and this signing signals the front office is ready to start building back up.
What Caratini Brings to Minnesota
Caratini put together one of his best seasons in Houston last year, slashing .259/.324/.404 with career highs in home runs (12) and RBIs (46) across 114 games.
The switch-hitter has always been able to handle the bat from both sides of the plate, and over nine big league seasons with the Cubs, Padres, Brewers, and Astros, he's compiled a .244 average with 58 homers and 247 RBIs.
The 32-year-old also brings plenty of experience behind the dish.
He's caught two no-hitters in his career and grades out as one of the better blockers in the game, even if his arm hasn't always been a weapon against the running game.
With MLB rolling out the new ABS challenge system in 2026, pitch framing becomes a little less important anyway, which could actually work in Caratini's favor.
A Smart Fit for the Twins
Minnesota needed catching depth after moving on from Christian Vazquez, and Caratini checks a lot of boxes.
Jeffers is coming off a solid year where he hit .266 with nine home runs and 47 RBIs, so the Twins now have two catchers who can actually produce offensively rather than relying on one guy to carry the load.
What makes this signing even more appealing is Caratini's versatility.
He's made 88 career appearances at first base, which gives Rocco Baldelli another way to get his bat into the lineup on days he's not catching.
That kind of flexibility matters for a team trying to squeeze every bit of production it can out of a limited payroll.
The move also keeps Jeffers from wearing down over the course of a long season.
Minnesota's pitching staff struggled to a 4.55 ERA last year, good for just 24th in baseball, so having a reliable tandem behind the plate could go a long way toward helping their young arms develop.
With the Twins still searching for bullpen help and more depth before pitchers and catchers report, the Caratini deal shows Minnesota isn't just waiting around for 2026 to happen.
The contract is pending a physical.