Yankees Exploring Options Behind the Plate, With Right-Handed Bat a Preference

The New York Yankees are looking at ways to improve their roster construction at one of the most specialized positions in baseball, catcher. According to The Athletic via Chris Kirschner as relayed by MLB Trade Rumors, the Yankees have been dissatisfied with the production of Austin Wells this season, and that has created renewed interest in adding more catching help as the trade market opens and teams re-evaluate their midseason needs.

The specific preference being discussed is not just additional depth behind the plate, but an impact bat with a right-handed profile. The Yankees, as described in the report, would rather add a right-handed hitter “behind the plate,” suggesting the team’s internal evaluation is tied both to lineup balance and to what it wants from the catcher spot offensively, not simply defense and game-calling.

Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins is among the names mentioned as a potential match for New York’s desire. Jeffers is a catcher who bats right-handed, and the fit is framed as more than just a platoon-style possibility. The report also points to an organizational connection that could make any discussion move more quickly, even if the overall situation still depends on what Minnesota is willing to do at the deadline.

That connection involves Tanner Swanson, the Yankees’ director of catching. MLB Trade Rumors notes that Swanson worked for the Twins as their catching coordinator from 2017 to 2019, and that Jeffers knows Swanson from that era. In practical terms, front offices often weigh not only talent and availability, but also how quickly a player might adjust to a team’s approach. Staff familiarity can reduce uncertainty when teams explore trades for specialized positions.

The Yankees have been built around staying flexible as roster needs evolve, and the catcher position is where the need can become most urgent. Even when a team has a primary starter, the day-to-day grind can expose both offensive mismatch problems and depth risks, especially if a regular is not delivering what the organization expected. By targeting a right-handed bat specifically, New York indicates that this is not being treated as a purely short-term bench solution.

Still, it is important to treat these reports as exploratory. MLB Trade Rumors is presenting a market-style framework, listing potential fits and discussing why New York might prefer a right-handed swing behind the plate, not announcing a deal. Until the Yankees and their possible counterparts make terms public, the likeliest near-term impact is informational: the organization is shopping for options that address both Wells’ struggles and the team’s preferred offensive profile at catcher.

What to watch next is whether the Yankees’ internal evaluation leads to actual trade talks with Minnesota or other teams holding right-handed-hitting catchers. Equally important will be how New York handles its catching depth in the meantime, since the Yankees cannot ignore the operational needs of the position while pursuing an upgrade.