Victor

Caratini

The Twins really need Caratini to step it up with Ryan Jeffers out for at least a month. He’s hitting .198/.304/.261 in 135 plate appearances, which is a far cry from his .263/.329/.406 line in his two years with Houston.

Jackson was hitting .239/.295/.511 in 95 plate appearances at Triple-A with seven home runs and 15 RBI. He will likely back up Victor Caratini, who now becomes a must-roster catcher in two-catcher leagues.

Caratini will likely see time behind the plate, at first base and as the designated hitter. There is some offensive upside in his bat and performed well in 2025 with the Astros, but this is more of a high-floor than a high-ceiling fantasy player.

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand says it’s a $14 million deal. It’s not surprising that Caratini is quickly following J.T. Realmuto off the board, but this is an unexpected fit, given the Twins’ budget issues and their already having a starting catcher in Ryan Jeffers. Caratini deserves to be a starter, but he could help just about anyone starting 70 games behind the plate and another 20 or 30 at DH and first base. That’s probably what he’ll do in Minnesota, unless the team now pivots to trading Jeffers. The Astros had interest in bringing Caratini back, and it was also thought that the Red Sox might jump in, given that they had interest in Realmuto.

Caratini should have been in greater demand when he signed a two-year, $12 million deal to become Yainer Diaz’s backup in 2024, and he probably will be this time around. Getting extra playing time with Yordan Alvarez often injured, Caratini, 32, appeared in 114 games this season and hit .259/.325/.404 in a career-high 386 plate appearances. He deserves to be a starter for the next couple of years.

The Astros are giving their 34-year-old first baseman a breather though he’ll undoubtedly be used off the bench in a key spot at some point during Saturday’s battle against the M’s. Instead the Astros will load their lineup with left-handed bats with Victor Caratini starting at first base and batting fifth against Mariners’ right-hander George Kirby.

Paredes will be returning from a two-month absence due to a hamstring strain, and without the benefit of a rehab assignment. The Astros, though, have the DH spot wide open for him in Yordan Alvarez’s absence. Victor Caratini will probably get less playing time with Paredes back.

The timing is notable on the heels of Tuesday’s bizarre on-field incident between ace Framber Valdez and backup catcher César Salazar. The 32-year-old backstop has cleared concussion protocol and will return for Wednesday’s showdown against the Yankees at Daikin Park.

Caratini is asymptomatic after suffering his head injury, which is great news for him and the Astros. The 27-year-old should be back Wednesday for Houston and see plenty of time behind the plate and at DH.

Caratini is in concussion protocol after taking a couple foul tips off the catcher’s mask earlier this week. The fact that Yainer Diaz is still dealing with some lingering wrist soreness means that César Salazar will likely handle the bulk of the catching duties for a couple days.