{"id":561676,"date":"2026-02-08T22:36:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-08T22:36:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/561676\/"},"modified":"2026-02-08T22:36:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T22:36:36","slug":"twins-bring-back-a-familiar-face-behind-the-plate-minnesota-twins-talk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/561676\/","title":{"rendered":"Twins Bring Back a Familiar Face Behind the Plate – Minnesota Twins Talk"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tThe Twins dipped back into familiar waters this week, agreeing to a minor league deal with catcher David Ba\u00f1uelos<\/a>. The deal includes an invitation to big league camp, giving Ba\u00f1uelos a chance to reintroduce himself to an organization that knows him well.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tAt 29 years old, Ba\u00f1uelos does not bring much in the way of major league experience. His time in the big leagues has been fleeting, appearing in just two games with Baltimore across the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Those appearances amounted to three plate appearances and not much opportunity to leave an impression. The Orioles ultimately removed him from their roster last summer, and he hit free agency after the season.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tEven in the minors, recent playing time has been hard to come by. Baltimore frequently stashed Ba\u00f1uelos on its taxi squad as emergency depth, which limited his opportunities to get regular at-bats. Over the last two seasons, he logged fewer than 200 plate appearances on the farm and struggled to find a rhythm in sporadic usage.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThat lack of recent production does not erase his longer history in Minnesota. Originally acquired from Seattle in 2017 for $1 million in international bonus pool money, Ba\u00f1uelos spent several years climbing the Twins’ minor league ladder. From 2021 through 2023, he bounced between Double- and Triple-A, offering occasional power but also plenty of swing and miss. In 176 plate appearances in the minors over the past two years, he slashed .171\/.284\/.270 (.554).The offensive upside never fully arrived, but the defensive reputation stuck.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThat glove-first profile is what brings him back into the picture now. The Twins currently project Ryan Jeffers<\/a> and Victor Caratini<\/a> as their primary catching tandem, with Caratini also capable of spelling first base or serving as a designated hitter. Alex Jackson<\/a> looms as the third catcher on the roster, though his lack of remaining options complicates the roster math.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tBa\u00f1uelos slots in neatly as depth beyond that group. He gives the Twins a reliable defensive presence at Triple-A and an experienced option if injuries strike or roster maneuvering thins the catching corps. If Jackson were to be lost on waivers, or if the Twins need an extra backstop for a short stretch, Ba\u00f1uelos provides coverage without forcing a rushed promotion.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tThere is also a longer view to consider. If the Twins fall out of contention later this summer, Jeffers becomes an obvious trade chip as an impending free agent. Even Caratini, under contract through 2027, could draw interest in the right scenario. In that kind of shakeup, organizational depth suddenly matters a lot more.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tFor now, the signing is quiet and practical. Ba\u00f1uelos is unlikely to push his way into a prominent role, but he fills a necessary space on the depth chart. Those are the kinds of moves that rarely make headlines in February, yet often become important by August.\n<\/p>\n

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