Yankees could target an injured star before the trade deadline

The New York Yankees are showing signs of life again after a couple of tough weeks.

Aaron Boone's team got off to a strong start to the campaign, and they're still sitting atop a solid 30-21 record and second place in the AL East.

However, their offense has seen better days, and they may need to make some moves to get over the hump once and for all.

Considering that, ESPN insider Buster Olney believes they might be keeping tabs on Minnesota Twins star catcher Ryan Jeffers.

The New York Yankees could trade for Ryan Jeffers

“Catcher Ryan Jeffers is a free agent after this season and was recently placed on the injured list with a broken hamate, but he could still draw ardent interest from teams like the New York Yankees for what he could provide in the last months of the season,” Olney wrote.

The August 3 trade deadline is still months away, but it's never too early to take a look around to find potential targets.

Also, Jeffers could be looking at two months on the shelf after being placed on the Injured List with a fractured hamate bone.

Before his injury, the Twins' stopgap was slashing .295/.408/.541 with seven home runs, per Baseball Reference. That's more than twice as many as J.C. Escarra and Austin Wells have combined to hit this season (3).

Of course, both of them are outstanding game-callers and defensive players. Yankees catchers have combined for a .998 percent fielding percentage, the second-best in all of baseball, per Baseball Reference, and they've only allowed 30 stolen bases this season, which is tied for the sixth-fewest. 

That said, the Yankees need more at the plate, especially with Ryan McMahon struggling mightily and Anthony Volpe most likely due for regression after a hot start to the season. 

Jeffers will be a free agent after this season, and at just 28, he can continue to improve and give the Bronx Bombers a long-term solution at the position if they keep him beyond this year. He's second on his team with 26 runs scored, which would be fifth in the Bronx. Notably, his .408 OBP would be the second-best on the team behind only Max Schuemann.

He's one of the most proficient hitters at the position, and he might be one of the most feasible bats the Yankees could target if they want to get the monkey off their backs.