The Tampa Bay Rays are still positioned to buy at the trade deadline, even after dropping a few games to the Boston Red Sox in their first series coming out of the All-Star break. At 56-41, they remain in the mix for the AL East and could be one of the more aggressive teams on the market this summer.
That’s where things get interesting. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Rays and the New York Yankees made the same move over the weekend, sending scouts to Wrigley Field to watch three Minnesota Twins veterans: catcher Ryan Jeffers, starter Joe Ryan and outfielder Trevor Larnach.
“Scouts from the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays were at Wrigley Field over the weekend to closely watch Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, starter Joe Ryan, and outfielder Trevor Larnach,” Nightengale reports.
Jeffers stands out as the most obvious fit for Tampa Bay. The veteran catcher brings power, and the Rays could use help behind the plate. The Yankees are also expected to be in that mix, which could make the chase for Jeffers a real battle between two division rivals.
Joe Ryan is another name to watch, and he may be the cleanest target for the Rays. The two-time All-Star would give Tampa Bay a major boost in the rotation, where he could line up with Drew Rasmussen, Shane McClanahan and Nick Martinez to form a strong group.
Larnach, meanwhile, looks like a more manageable fit for Tampa Bay than for New York. Outfield isn’t the Rays’ biggest need, but he would still help. He’s hitting .286 with seven home runs and an .821 OPS this season, production that would upgrade the outfield.
So the picture is pretty clear: the Rays and Yankees are both tracking the same Twins trio, and that sets up a potentially competitive market for Jeffers, Ryan and Larnach as the deadline approaches.
In Other News...
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One of those calls is in the bullpen, where Camilo Doval has slid so far down the hierarchy that a move may be coming sooner rather than later, especially with his options situation adding pressure. The position-player side has its own debate, too, with Jasson Domnguez and Jazz Chisholm Jr. both at the center of suggested adjustments as the Yankees look for a cleaner mix and a little more certainty in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Just Pushed The Yankees Toward A Brutal Trade Deadline Choice
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The rotation picture is part of what makes the decision so tricky. With several starters on the way back from the injured list, the Yankees could soon find themselves with more arms than spots, creating a path to deal from a position of depth while trying to cover the holes left by the lineup's injuries. The challenge is finding the right balance between preserving what the Yankees already have and making enough of a splash to keep pace in a crowded race. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees Just Ran Into A Bigger Problem Than One Bad Series
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Cody Bellinger is one of the players expected to help steady things, but there is also a broader roster conversation hanging over the club as the trade deadline approaches. If the Yankees are going to keep pace, Brian Cashman may need to look beyond internal fixes and consider upgrades at catcher, along with other moves that could reshape the infield mix. The series in Los Angeles did not just cost them a chance at a cleaner result, it sharpened the question of whether this roster has enough reliable offense as currently built. [Read more 🡒]