The New York Yankees are eyeing several top targets as the trade deadline approaches, with catching help sitting at the front of their wish list. While they’ve got needs on both sides of the ball, landing a difference-maker behind the plate seems to be priority number one.
The big question? Whether the Minnesota Twins decide to sell.
Byron Buxton isn’t going anywhere — that much seems clear. But there’s growing buzz that Minnesota might move on from pitcher Joe Ryan and catcher Ryan Jeffers. And it’s Jeffers who’s caught New York’s attention.
“The 32-year-old Buxton has been on a rampage the last few weeks, hitting .297/.351/.672 with 25 home runs in his last 55 games. The Twins are only two games out of a wild-card spot in the woebegone American League, though it seems unlikely they will buy significantly at the deadline. If anything, they could still sell, with righty Joe Ryan and catcher Ryan Jeffers among their top trade chips,” Mike Axisa wrote for CBS Sports.
Reports suggest the Yankees have already registered interest in Jeffers, though any deal might not come together until closer to the deadline. Minnesota’s sitting just two games out of a wild-card spot, so they’re likely to hold out for the best possible offer if they do decide to sell.
That waiting game isn’t ideal for New York, but if they can land guys like Jeffers before October rolls around, there’s plenty of reason to believe it’ll work out. The Yankees know they need to be aggressive to answer the questions on thier roster — and catching help could be the key piece that puts everything together.
What makes this different is the timing. The Twins are still in the hunt, which gives them leverage to wait for the right package. From where the Yankees are sitting, that means being patient while staying ready to pull the trigger when Minnesota makes their decision.
