The Minnesota Twins have acquired catcher Alex Jackson from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league infielder Payton Eeles. To create space on the 40-man roster, the Twins designated outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. for assignment. In a separate move, Minnesota also avoided arbitration with right-hander Justin Topa, agreeing to a one-year contract.
Jackson, who turns 30 next month, was a potential non-tender candidate for the Orioles with a projected 2026 arbitration salary of $1.8 million. Positioned as the team’s third catcher behind Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo, and with Maverick Handley also on the 40-man roster, Jackson was deemed expendable. The trade allows Baltimore to add upper-level infield depth while clearing a roster spot.
For the Twins, Jackson fills the need for a backup catcher to Ryan Jeffers, replacing veteran free agent Christian Vazquez. A former sixth-overall draft pick in 2014, Jackson has played for five different MLB clubs but has yet to establish himself offensively. Minnesota will be his seventh professional organization.
While considered a capable defender, Jackson’s offensive production has historically been poor. He entered the 2025 season with a career slash line of just .132/.224/.232. However, he showed signs of improvement in a 37-game stint with the Orioles this year, hitting a respectable .220/.290/.473.
Despite the recent success, his high 37% strikeout rate and low 5% walk rate remain concerns. Advanced metrics suggest his underlying performance was still below average, making it unlikely he will sustain that production. Still, he offers the Twins a cost-effective option in a thin market for catchers. Jackson joins Jeffers, Mickey Gasper, and Jhonny Pereda as the catching options on Minnesota’s 40-man roster.
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