Twins ‘engaged’ in talks with catcher Ryan Jeffers

LAS VEGAS — Ryan Jeffers has until next Tuesday to officially decide if he wants to accept the qualifying offer the Minnesota Twins extended to him, which would make him the highest-paid catcher in the game, or decline it. But while it is likely that he will decline the offer, a one-year, $23.15 million deal for the 2027 season, the Twins have made it clear that they are interested in a reunion with the 29-year-old catcher regardless. The Twins have engaged Jeffers representatives, general manager Jeremy Zoll said this week at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, about bringing him back no matter what happens with the qualifying offer. We re in touch there. We have made clear that we d love to have him back, not just in a QO scenario, but in other scenarios, too, Zoll said. You have to work through that process, but that s ongoing and doesn t need to wait until the 17th. While the qualifying offer represents more than he is expected to make on a per-year basis, Jeff