EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Remember the first two "Around the Horn" pieces we ran on Twins.com this week? Catcher and first base/DH? You know, the two that I started with because I was confident that those were the two most settled parts of the roster? About that. The Twins agreed to a two-year deal with catcher/first baseman/DH Victor Caratini on Friday. The deal is pending a physical and likely won’t be formally announced until later this week, but Caratini is going to be a member of the Twins in 2026. So … how does he fit? |
I know that the quick knee-jerk reaction is that they must be getting ready to trade Ryan Jeffers, but I don’t think it’s that. My understanding is that for now, Jeffers is projected to be the primary catcher again. Now, does it provide some cover if they get to the Trade Deadline and decide to part with Jeffers? Yes. And it also means they won’t be starting from zero at catcher if Jeffers departs in free agency next winter.
But I do not believe they signed Caratini to be the primary catcher. For one thing, Caratini hasn’t caught more than 60 games in a season since 2022, and the only other options on the roster are Alex Jackson and Jhonny Pereda. That’s not 162 games worth of Major League catching. Caratini will catch some, but I expect Jeffers to catch 100 games or more -- just not the 120 or so that it seemed he might get before this move.
That does raise the question of Jackson, though. It’s clear the Twins have some interest in him since they traded for him in November. He’s well-regarded defensively and coming off a strong (albeit very brief) 2025 Major League season with the Orioles (37 games). And he is out of options. A three-catcher mix doesn’t really make a ton of sense, so it’s possible that at some point they could designate Jackson for assignment while hoping he clears waivers. In that case, the fit is obvious. You’ve added a switch-hitting backup, who’s better from the left side, as a complement to your right-handed-hitting starter. |
Then there’s the DH angle.
Caratini also plays first base, but with Josh Bell in the picture as a fellow switch-hitter who is better from the left side, he probably won’t see a lot of time there. In the event of an injury to Bell, he certainly could slide in there and pick up some of the slack.
But at DH, Caratini provides an extra option, and once again that “in case of trade” notion comes up. If the Twins were to move Trevor Larnach -- perhaps for bullpen help? -- Caratini would be a like-for-like fill-in for Larnach at DH.
Now, with that out of the way, we’ve got a ton of little nuggets for you in this week’s newsletter. Enjoy. |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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It’s prospect season, and my friends at MLB Pipeline are super busy these days. They’ve been dropping their Top 10 prospects by position, with Eduardo Tait ranking eighth among catchers. But the big reveal is coming later this week. On Friday at 7 p.m. CT, Pipeline will drop the new Top 100 prospects, with a reveal show on MLB Network. There is sure to be a good bit of Twins representation on the new list, so don’t miss it. |
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The Twins announced their Minor League field staffs this week, and the biggest news came in St. Paul. After former Saints manager Toby Gardenhire was added to new skipper Derek Shelton’s Twins staff earlier this winter, Brian Dinkelman has been promoted to manage Triple-A St. Paul. He was previously the manager at Double-A Wichita. Nico Giarratano, previously the manager for the Rookie-level FCL Twins, will manage Wichita. Brian Meyer returns as High-A Cedar Rapids manager, while Jordan Smith takes over as manager at Single-A Fort Myers. |
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SPRING TRAINING DATES ANNOUNCED |
Major League Baseball formally announced Spring Training report dates last week, in case you were in need of something to look forward to. The first day of pitcher and catcher workouts in Fort Myers is set for Thursday, Feb. 12, with full-squad workouts beginning Feb. 16. The traditional “report day” is no longer as big a deal as it used to be, with the focus instead on the beginning of workouts. |
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AND, FINALLY, THE PLAYLIST |
Y’all be kind and look out for each other, OK?
Cable Ties, “Hope”
Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires, “The City Walls”
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “However Long”
The Five Stairsteps, “O-o-h Child”
The Hold Steady, “Constructive Summer” |
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