The Minnesota Twins are looking to spend some money this offseason and a good chunk of that could go to pending free agent Ryan Jeffers. Coming off a career year where he hit .256/.353/.461 with 14 homers and 56 RBI in 92 games, Jeffers could have had bigger numbers had he not suffered a hamate fracture in his left hand last May. He also showed a firm grasp of MLB’s ABS Challenge System and played solid defense, making him the top catcher in this year’s free agent class.
While the Twins gave Jeffers a qualifying offer worth $23.15 million, Jeffers could decline and take a long-term contract that is projected to be worth $16 million per season, according to FanGraphs. That means that Minnesota must make contingency plans if Jeffers leaves in free agency and fortunately, there are plenty of options they could consider.
Ranking the Minnesota Twins' options if Ryan Jeffers leaves in free agency
5. Victor Caratini
Out of all of the potential outcomes the Twins have to replace Jeffers, this would be the most disappointing.
Caratini was one of the final moves of former president of baseball and business operations Derek Falvey before he “mutually parted ways” with the team last January. But the two-year, $14 million contract turned out like a lot of his other forays into free agency, hitting .220/.312/.315 with seven homers and 44 RBI in 106 games.
While Caratini would be a downgrade at the plate, he was better behind it, logging a plus-4 rating in blocks above average and a plus-3 in pitch framing according to Baseball Savant. There’s also a benefit in that the Twins could use the savings and invest it into the starting rotation, bullpen, or another area of need.
But even if the Twins choose that route, it would feel underwhelming to install Caratini as their everyday catcher if Jeffers leaves.
4. Hunter Goodman
With free agent prices not coming down unless there’s a salary cap added in the next collective bargaining agreement, the Twins could look to trade for a controllable backstop if Jeffers leaves. That avenue could have them looking for upside and could lead to a deal with the Colorado Rockies for Hunter Goodman.
Goodman would be a sufficient replacement for Jeffers in the lineup, as he’s hit .262/.317/.525 with 72 homers and 179 RBI over the past two seasons. Goodman also isn’t a Coors Field beneficiary as he had a higher OPS (.882) and hit more homers (25) on the road than he did at home (.791 OPS, 16 HR) last season.
The hidden problem comes in the peripherals. While Goodman has great overall stats, he has much higher chase, whiff and strikeout rates than Jeffers and is a comparable defender with a plus-1 in fielding run value per Baseball Savant.
The biggest appeal here is that Goodman is under team control through the 2029 season and dangling a starting pitcher like Bailey Ober could be a solid centerpiece to get a deal done. If the Twins are looking for a one-for-one replacement at a cheaper price point, this is the way to go.
3. Tyler Stephenson
If the Twins are looking for a platoon behind the plate, Stephenson would be a solid answer in free agency. He’s projected to cost $9 million per season according to FanGraphs and is the same age (30) as Jeffers. There also wouldn’t be much of a drop-off at the plate as Stephenson hit .257/.335/.422 in seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and posted a career-high 2.5 wins above replacement last season.
The catch is that he’s a platoon hitter. Stephenson’s OPS against right-handers (.748) was 94 points higher than it was against left-handers and it’s likely that if he signed with the Twins and it would be redundant to pair him with Caratini, who hit .176/.294/.544 against southpaws last season.
Maybe the plan would be to trade Caratini and put Stephenson in his place. But that would just create another need.. Either way, Stephenson is a similar player with a cheaper price point and could allow the Twins to invest that money somewhere else.
2. Vahn Lackey
Chances are the third overall pick from last June’s draft will spend a hefty chunk in the minors in 2027. But Lackey could also shoot through the system if he plays as he did in his brief taste of professional baseball last summer.
Lackey began his career with 15 games at Low-A Fort Myers and while his overall stats were underwhelming (.204/.389/.370 with 1 HR, 9 RBI), his defense showed up immediately, throwing out 6 of 20 (23%) potential basestealers to earn a promotion to Cedar Rapids. The bat showed up in High-A, going 12 for 38 (.316) with a double, two homers, seven RBI, 14 walks and eight strikeouts in 52 plate appearances and it sets the stage for him to be potentially fast-tracked this summer.
It would be a reach to expect Lackey to be the Twins’ Opening Day catcher, but this is a player who hit .397/.519/.772 with 20 homers and 78 RBI in 61 games for Georgia Tech last season. The other part is that minor league baseball will be played even if the expected MLB lockout lingers into the season. Should Lackey perform well in that scenario, it could also warrant a call-up at some point next season.
If the Twins feel Lackey can reach the majors next season, it may only require a supplemental move to replace Jeffers. That could pave the way for Lackey to get to Minneapolis and be an instant contributor next season.
1. Carson Kelly
While Jeffers is the best catcher on the market, Kelly is right behind him. The 32-year-old had a strong offensive season with the Chicago Cubs, hitting .258/.336/.376 with 10 homers and 58 RBI over 120 games and is two years removed from putting up a 3.5 WAR during the 2025 campaign.
With his age, Kelly would also require a shorter contract, which could hand the reins to Lackey when he’s ready. But Kelly’s previous production in the nine seasons before getting to Chicago (.224/.307/.373, 54 HR, 207 RBI) suggests they’d be investing in another backstop who may not be worth the money.
In the end, the Twins have a decision to make. Signing Jeffers would be worth it, but a four-year deal locks him in through his age-33 season. The Twins also have several catchers coming through the pipeline, including Lackey, Eduardo Tait and Carson Tinney.
If the Twins see those players as the future, Jeffers could be allowed to walk and the Twins would need a replacement. Kelly would fit the bill as a stopgap at a similar price and if they don’t believe their young backstops will be ready, he might be the best solution the Twins have if Jeffers walks.
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