Overview
- Bob Nightengale reported Sunday that the Yankees are publicly pursuing Minnesota catcher Ryan Jeffers as a trade‑deadline target.
- New York’s catchers have produced a .183/.270/.268 slashline this season, creating a clear need for a right‑handed offensive upgrade.
- Jeffers is on the injured list with a fractured hamate but has resumed baseball activity and dry swings, leaving his availability conditional on his rehab timeline.
- Any trade would be shaped by Jeffers’ one‑year contract status, Minnesota’s uncertain willingness to sell a player under short control, a thin market for catchers, and the Yankees’ prospect and payroll considerations.
- Proponents note Jeffers’ recent production and his familiarity with Yankees catching coordinator Tanner Swanson as factors that could ease a midseason transition and change roles for Austin Wells and other current backstops.