Yankees linked again to trade for slugging AL Central catcher

Yankees linked again to trade for slugging AL Central catcher originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The New York Yankees entered the season knowing that they were missing a righty-hitting catcher, but otherwise, it looked like they had a solid setup behind the plate.

Austin Wells had been reliable. J.C. Escarra was on the rise. Ben Rice could even fill in in a pinch.

Instead, it’s all gone downhill, and the Yanks are in need of some kind of help back there.

The same name keeps coming up, too. Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers could be on the trade block, and the Yankees might be the best fit.

“(Brian) Cashman might also have to deal for one of the better relievers available — as well as a right-handed hitter, such as Twins catcher Jeffers,” ESPN’s Buster Olney wrote as part of a new article on Tuesday.

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Jeffers is currently on the 10-day IL, so no deal is imminent. The Yankees will instead keep an eye out when he returns to make sure he looks healthy.

Jeffers is 29 years old and has 75 career MLB home runs.

This season, before getting hurt, he was batting .295 with seven homers and 26 RBI in 122 at bats.

Jeffers has a career .755 OPS, and that stat been raised all the way to .949 in the early going in 2026.

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If the Yankees got Jeffers, they could still find some at bats for either Wells (also currently injured) or Escarra against right-handed pitching.

Jeffers would start every game against a southpaw and probably some against same-sided arms, too, particularly if he kept raking.

At this point, it’d be a bit disappointing for the Yankees not to get Jeffers, because it’s the match that everyone is pointing to.

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