The Minnesota Twins have spent much of the offseason in a holding pattern, with Josh Bell standing as the lone notable addition. That quiet approach could change quickly if events on the East Coast continue to unfold, as the Twins have been connected to the Philadelphia Phillies in trade discussions centered on catcher Ryan Jeffers.
According to The Athletic’s Matt Gelb, the Phillies are exploring backup plans in case they do not re-sign longtime catcher J.T. Realmuto. Realmuto has been a fixture in Philadelphia since 2019, earning three All-Star selections along the way. Now 35 years old and coming off his worst offensive season with the club, he has reached free agency with no resolution in sight.
With pitchers and catchers set to report soon, Philadelphia’s sense of urgency is growing. As Gelb wrote, “The Phillies have explored contingencies because pitchers and catchers report to Florida in five weeks. It would be ideal to have a starting catcher report. The Phillies have talked trades for catchers, young and old; Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers is one potential target, league sources told The Athletic.”
That urgency cuts both ways. Gelb also noted, “But the closer everyone gets to camps opening, the more reluctant teams are to trade away a catcher. Victor Caratini, who has never started more than 87 games in a season at catcher, is still on the free agent market and could wait until Realmuto decides to pick his own destination.”
Jeffers is not Realmuto, but the comparison is closer than it might initially appear. In 2025, Jeffers slashed .266/.356/.397 with nine home runs and 47 RBI across 119 games. Realmuto posted a .257/.315/.384 line with 12 home runs and 52 RBI over 134 games. The larger body of work still favors Realmuto, who owns a .270/.328/.447 career line over 1,373 games, while Jeffers sits at .239/.321/.419 through 515 contests. Still, Jeffers has quietly established himself as an above-average offensive catcher, particularly over the past three seasons.
From Minnesota’s perspective, the timing is complicated. Jeffers is projected to earn $6.5 million in his final year of arbitration in 2026 before reaching free agency. Trading him now could bring back meaningful value, especially if Philadelphia’s leverage erodes as camp approaches. At the same time, the Twins lack a clear replacement. Christian Vazquez is a free agent, and the current depth chart includes Alex Jackson and Jhonny Pereda, neither of whom profiles as a true starting catcher.
The farm system offers little immediate relief. Eduardo Tait, acquired from Philadelphia in the Jhoan Duran trade, is just 19 years old and several years away despite being the organization’s number three prospect. Ricardo Olivar at Double A is the most advanced catching prospect, but he is not viewed as a near-term solution.
Any Jeffers trade would almost certainly require Minnesota to add a replacement via trade or free agency. The free agent market includes names like Jonah Heim, Mitch Garver, Victor Caratini, Elias Diaz, Gary Sanchez, and Christian Vazquez, but each option represents some degree of downgrade for a team that still wants to contend in the AL Central.
If Realmuto’s negotiations continue to stall, Minnesota may find itself holding the leverage. In that scenario, the Twins should be demanding rising young big leaguers and meaningful prospects. Trading Jeffers would hurt in the short term, but if the return is strong enough, it could be a calculated move that aligns with a longer view of the roster.
For now, it remains a rumor. But it is one that neatly captures where both franchises stand, one searching for stability behind the plate and the other weighing whether its best option might be to cash in before the window quietly closes.