Though the Twins’ top priority at the moment is likely ascertaining whether they have a real chance to extend Carlos Correa before he formally triggers his opt-out clause, they’ll head into the winter with a lengthy list of needs. Among the priorities will be looking for some help behind the plate. President of baseball ops Derek Falvey recently spoke of the “co-catcher” model — that is, two catchers splitting time more evenly rather than a conventional starter/backup committee (link via Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic). He implied that there’s “an opportunity to match up” right-handed-hitting Ryan Jeffers with a partner who can provide some more offense against right-handed pitching.
Falvey notably emphasized that Jeffers isn’t viewed as a strict platoon candidate, but there’s little denying that the 25-year-old has been vastly more productive in platoon matchups to this point in his career. Jeffers hit .306/.377/.532 in a small sample of 70 plate appearances against southpaws this season and carries a career .263/.344/.450 output against left-handers. Comparatively, he’s batted just .185/.256/.361 against right-handers. From a pure power standpoint, Jeffers’ .187 ISO against lefties and .176 mark versus righties are comparable, but Jeffers strikes out more often and walks less against same-handed opponents. He also makes far less hard contact against righties and pops up nearly four times as often in those matchups as he does against lefties.
While the pure offensive splits do speak to a potential platoon scenario being advantageous, it’s also worth pointing out that Jeffers is still young and any such numbers are coming in a small sample. Though he’s been a prominent factor in the Twins’ catching mix since late in the 2020 season, injuries have limited his availability. Most recently, spent more than two months on the injured list this season due to a fractured thumb. Considering that Jeffers hit .276/.362/.427 against righties in his final full minor league season (2019), the Twins may not want to completely cut off his avenue to at-bats against right-handed pitching; there’s still time for him to improve in that regard.
Beyond that, limiting Jeffers to a platoon setup inherently subtracts as quality defensive player from the lineup. True, Jeffers’ 19% caught-stealing rate is five percentage points below the league average during his three years in the Majors, but he regularly grades out as a strong framer and has long drawn praise for his receiving skills on the whole. In about a season’s worth of innings over the past two years, he’s been credited for eight Defensive Runs Saved.
Still, there’s some obvious cause to add not just catching option who can provide some clout against right-handed opponents, but one who can shoulder the workload in the event of any additional absences from Jeffers. This year’s injury was fluky in nature, but the Twins’ system is generally thin on catching prospects at the moment, so adding a veteran who can step up and take a bigger role, if needed, makes good sense.
Unfortunately, among this year’s group of free-agent catchers, the options in that regard are fairly limited. Certainly, the market’s top catcher, Willson Contreras, would provide some extra thump against right- and left-handed pitching alike (and bring more than enough bat to occasionally mix in at DH), but the competition for him figures to be strong. Some lefty-swinging backstops are available in the form of Omar Narvaez and switch-hitting Tucker Barnhart, but neither did much against righties or lefties in 2022. Both are coming off down seasons, though Narvaez in particular does carry a career .268/.345/.406 line against right-handers. The trade market will present everything from top-tier regularsi (Oakland’s Sean Murphy) to out-of-options rolls of the dice (the Angels’ Matt Thaiss).
The quintet of Jeffers, Gary Sanchez, Sandy Leon, Caleb Hamilton and Jose Godoy combined for a .197/.275/.355 batting line while catching in 2022, equating to an 81 wRC+ that ranked 17th in the Majors. Twins catchers were far from the sport’s least-productive unit, but that’s as much an indictment on the current production (or lack thereof) from catchers throughout the league as a testament to the Twins’ catching corps. Whichever route Falvey and his staff take, some form of complement to Jeffers feels inevitable. And, with only about $52.5MM on next year’s payroll (when factoring in Correa’s opt-out and the likely exercising of Sonny Gray’s club option), there’s plenty of room for upgrades up and down the roster.
Joe Mauer making a comeback!!
I guess the Sanchino wasn’t all he was cracked up to be……..
He’s just not a competent catcher.
He’s also a deeply flawed hitter because he can’t read breaking balls effectively.
Be a catcher , kids.
This is an easy fix for the Twins. First, sign free agent Clint Frazier, but make sure not to give him no-trade clause. I know it will be tough since he’s an elite player. Second, trade him to the Orioles for Adley Rutschman…and maybe one or two other pieces. Simple. Hopefully Twins management will think of this idea. It will work 100%.
I think your meds are wearing off
I think he was just screwing with Yankee fans and it way over your head.
Who is Clint Frazier?
I think he’s Jackson’s brother… Idk
Hanna Montana’s evil twin.
He lives in Seattle and has the tossed salad blues.
Hanging with Trent Clark in “Doesn’t exist-land”, stop deadnaming. Move on.
Jairo Garcia is there too lol
“Jakson Frazier”
Jackson Frazier is his real name, dont deadname
I know I’m just saying his real name in quotes.
Jackson Frasier should stick to taxes.
The Mets can send McCann your way. Probably would pick up a chunk of the contract too.
That might actually work out. McCann did well in Chicago but he is performing like he did his last season in Detroit.
The guy has been a horror story for the Mets, just cant hit a lick..
I hear super utility player Josh Van Meter is available
Technically no, but LOL.
He can definitely catch and serve as a relief pitcher too.
I was at the game we lost 19-2 got to see him throw 52 mph lol.
Royce Lewis, Simeón Woods-Richardson, and Austin Martin for Sean Murphy?
Carson Kelly is out of favor in Arizona. Looks like he’s getting to the point in his career where there’s teetering going on between starter guy or just a super sub. He’s still pretty young. Someone needs to give him one more shot before falling off in to the back up role abyss?
You can have Austin Martin. Other 2 are starters for the Twins next season.
Not if they get Murphy! Heard of this thing called Free Agency? Thats where Minnesota will replace them!
Is that the best package the A’s can get for Sean Murphy? Is that clearing everyone else? I like the deal, but Murphy might be the #1 most trade value who gets moved player this offseason.
Mets can trade James McCann to them !!!!
I would gift wrap and pay the rest of his salary too.
I swear there was an article or some comments on here a day or two ago about how good Gary Sanchez turned out to be catching for the Twins.
LOL
Twins. White Sox. Rangers. Rockies. So many MLB teams going in circles.
Think the Yankees would be in the playoffs this year if Sanchez was handling that pitching staff? What’s his next stop – part-time DH or being a Catcher for the Marlin’s?
One of the reasons Swanson never received a long-term deal from a team that hands them out like candy is his wild inconsistencies. Even this year, he (like a lot of Braves) were ice cold before putting together the most level and best season of his career.
After watching him his entire career, he does not scream $120-150 million dollar shortstop to me. The defense is good, the leadership is phenomenal, but that bat has been too wildly inconsistent to trust.
Being said, there’s no shot the Braves drop the $200 or more it will take for Correa or Turner and I don’t know what would be out there on the trade market, so I think they may pinch their nose and get something done.
Blue Jays have an abundance of catchers… They also need lefty hitters… Nick Gordon for Danny Jansen.
Interesting idea although I would trade Alejandro Kirk instead of Jansen. Kirk’s value is likely to never be higher, coming off an All-Star year and significant team control left. Get the most for him while the getting is good. Jansen seems to be a better catcher and handles the pitching staff well. The Jays need that with the holes in starting pitching.
Of course, this is why I am not a GM or PoBO.
Deal!!
If the twins are going to continue this idiotic blanket, almost no exception, policy of “no starter will go a 3rd time through the lineup” their first, second, third, and fourth priority need to be elite bullpen arms.
If you want to win in the playoffs, you need 5+ absolutely nails relievers, all not slumping. Not many seem to be clocking this.
Not every pitcher was limited that way. And the Twins are far from the only team to limit pitchers, or make the leash very short during the third time through.
Another option that is possibly on the table….Manny Pina from the Braves. TDA and Contreras probably set up to the same duties as this previous season. Pina not really needed.
What’s the best possible trade package the A’s are going to get for Sean Murphy and can Minnesota beat it?
Is Sean Murphy the #1 most trade value+likeliest to moved trade target this offseason? I can’t see anyone else clearing him now Juan Soto is off the table.
Twinkies are positioned for:
The Return of:
La Tortuga = Willins Astudillo !!
The Mets have 1 for you for free McCann
I wonder if the Twins would be interested in a trade for Buxton. The Jays need a CF and even though Buxton is undeniably a high risk, oft injured player, he is a very good player when he does get on the field. His base contract of 15m is not onerous for the team either. The Jays certainly have some talent to make this trade happen, but, would the Twins be interested.
frankw;
Just a suggestion…..
1. The Jays would be far better off if they would stop trading their young players for veterans – especially players with injury problems.
2. The Jays should think about trying to trade some of their overpaid veterans, taking what they can get from them, and playing their youngsters.
That team is top-heavy in large veteran contracts most of whom are with players that are declining in productivity. This is causing them to have a good portion of their 26 person roster filled with one-dimensional players that aren’t helping the team much in order to stay within their payroll budget.
The Jays window is closing fast. They’re doing nothing to regenerate that team. The few youngsters they have with potential aren’t getting much playing time. The pipeline from the farm system built by Ben Cherington has pretty much dried up. This course they’ve taken for the last few years is exactly what happened with the Cubs, White Sox, Twins, Red Sox, and others in the past 3-5 years.
Brett Sullivan
Should trade for Murphy!!!
thats a no brainer