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Yankees Linked to Twins' Emerging Catcher, Per Insider
Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Yankees Linked to Twins' Emerging Catcher, Per Insider

Originally posted on Athlon Sports  |  By Joe Najarian  |  Last updated Jun 2, 2026 12:55 PM ET
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The New York Yankees are, as usual, expected to be buyers before MLB's trade deadline on August 3.

One of the Bronx Bombers' biggest areas of need is at the catcher position, as the tandem of Austin Wells and J.C. Escarra has struggled greatly so far. The two have combined to hit .180/.281/.273 with four home runs (all by Wells) and a 59 wRC+, with only the Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies getting less offensive production from their catchers.

With that in mind, the Yankees are being proactive in finding a good hitting backstop. And according to an insider, they may have found an ideal target.

Joel Sherman Links Yankees to Twins' Ryan Jeffers

MLB Insider Joel Sherman has linked the Yankees to multiple options behind the plate in both his Pinstripe Post podcast and a June 2 article for the New York Post. In both, he considers the Yankees' ideal trade target to be Ryan Jeffers from the Minnesota Twins.

"There's nobody who will fit the Yankees like him," Sherman said on the podcast. "Number one, he's a right-handed hitter. Number two, he really hits and it's no fluke. Go look year-to-year. He kills lefty pitching and it's the one thing you'd want from it.

"He is an excellent framer, by the way," Sherman continued. "He has a lot of history with Tanner Swanson, the Yankees' catching coach. Tanner worked for the Twins for a long time before he came to the Yankees. He's... just the ideal."

Jeffers, 28, is set to become a free agent after this season, while the Twins are 28-33 (albeit only 1.5 games out of the last AL Wild Card spot). The catcher is currently on the injured list with a fractured hamate bone, but in just 37 games he was on pace to have a career year.

Over 147 plate appearances, Jeffers slashed .295/.408/.541 with seven home runs and 26 RBI. He's earned a reputation as one of MLB's best hitting catchers by posting a wRC+ of 106 or higher over the past three seasons, but with a mark of 164 in the early going and already accumulating 1.7 fWAR, Jeffers was far surpassing his previous production. Based on Jeffers' past results and advanced metrics via Statcast, his blistering start is no joke.

The primary reason why Jeffers fits the Yankees' needs, though, is very simple: he's a right-handed hitter. Wells and Escarra are both left-handed hitters, and while that makes them ideal candidates to play in Yankee Stadium, it prevents any kind of platooning from manager Aaron Boone. Escarra is learning how to bat right-handed in an effort to solve the Yankees' need for a right-handed hitting catcher, but becoming a switch-hitter is not something that can be learned quickly. He should certainly try, but it can't be rushed.

Sherman listed some other high-profile options for the Yankees to take a shot at such as Adley Rutschman, Keibert Ruiz and Freddy Fermin. But Jeffers looks to be the best fit and maybe even the most realistic, and if he recovers from his injury before the trade deadline, expect the Yankees to be in contact with the Twins and look to do business.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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