The Yankees’ trade-deadline picture got a lot murkier Monday, and it may have pushed them toward a very different kind of target than the one they first had in mind.
An American League executive told NJ.com that Minnesota is no longer acting like a seller, which matters because the Twins had been one of the clubs the Yankees were watching closely for help. The executive said he was told by three teams that “the Twins aren’t selling, they’re buying,” and that Minnesota plans to keep Joe Ryan, Ryan Jeffers and Byron Buxton.
“They’re telling teams, ‘Don’t call us to buy our guys. We’re buying players.’”
That leaves the Yankees, who beat the White Sox 9-5 Monday night in Chicago, looking elsewhere as the Aug. 3 deadline approaches. Brian Cashman wants a right-handed-hitting catcher, and Jeffers had been near the top of the list. Buxton also would have been a major target, especially with Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge both on the injured list.
Now the focus may shift to the Mets.
The executive said the Yankees’ best realistic path could be a prospect deal with their crosstown rivals for outfielder Tyrone Taylor and backup catcher Luis Torrens. That would not be the splashy addition the Yankees might have hoped for, but the market is thin and the options are limited.
Taylor has been on a tear since returning from the injured list on June 26. In 19 games since then, he is hitting .410 with six homers and 12 RBI.
For the season, he’s batting .250 with nine homers, 26 RBI and a .799 OPS in 62 games. He also went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer in Monday’s 14-3 win over the Braves at Citi Field, and he has boosted his average against left-handed pitching to .314.
The executive also pointed to Taylor’s defense, calling him “really, really” good in the field and noting that he “doesn’t strike out.”
Luis Robert Jr. is another Mets outfield name in the mix, though his numbers are far less appealing right now. He is hitting .208 with four homers, 10 RBI and a .660 OPS in 31 games, and he missed time from April 30 to July 20 with a lumbar disc herniation. Since returning, he is 3 for 21 with two homers in seven games.
At catcher, the Yankees are also believed to have interest in Francisco Alvarez, but the asking price is steep. The executive said, “The Mets are asking the moon for Alvarez,” though he added that the cost could come down as the deadline gets closer. He also noted how expensive even backup catchers have become in the market.
“Obviously, I like Alvarez better than Torrens, but I think both would help the Yankees out a lot.”
Torrens would bring more defense than offense, which is part of the issue from the Yankees’ perspective. The executive said that doesn’t really solve the club’s biggest problem at the position.
Hunter Goodman of the Rockies is another catcher the Yankees have checked on, but Colorado is not moving him, according to the executive. Goodman, an All-Star on a last-place team, hit 31 homers in his first full season in 2025 and has already matched that total this year.
The Yankees have gotten the least production from their catchers of any team in baseball this season, though there has been some recent life there. Austin Wells, who starts against left-handers, is hitting .292 over his last 10 games with three homers, five walks and a 1.100 OPS. For the season, he has a .165 average, seven homers and 14 RBI in 72 games.
Ali Sanchez, the backup called up from Triple-A on June 6, has hit .255 in 25 games and .333 against left-handers. He also hit his first career homer Monday, a three-run shot in the eighth inning off White Sox left-hander Sean Newcomb.
Even so, the executive said he thinks the Yankees are “OK at catcher” and have a bigger issue to solve.
“Personally, I think the Yankees are OK at catcher,” he said. “I get it, the easy target is going to be the offensive stats, but Wells brings so much to the club defensively. I think the Yankees have bigger needs than catching.”
For him, the priority is clear.
“Outfielder,” the executive said. “The Yankees were telling people recently that they may look into trading for one and it depended on Judge, but I think with Bellinger on the injured list, too, they have to get one.”
Judge has been out since May 31 with a fractured rib and is expected to miss time until September. Bellinger’s hamstring injury, suffered Saturday, was diagnosed Monday as a Grade 2 strain that likely will keep him out 4-to-6 weeks.
That’s why the executive believes the Yankees need a veteran safety net, even if their stars eventually return.
“Even if Judge and Bellinger come back, you’re still dealing with guys that have dealt with injuries that could happen again at any point,” he said. “You’ve gotta have a veteran guy in there to give them a little bit of security if Judge and Bellinger don’t come back or they come back and are hindered at any point.
“I really like Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones, but if you’re (manager) Aaron Boone, are you comfortable going into a series in October with those two guys and Trent Grisham in your outfield?
“I don’t see the Yankees getting a star outfielder or, heck, even an everyday guy. I see them getting a veteran bench guy they can count on a little bit more.
I don’t see it being a huge name. The huge name’s not out there.”
Toronto’s George Springer is among the outfielders available, but the Blue Jays are shopping a player who is now essentially a DH. Springer, who turns 37 on Sept. 19, has played only seven innings in the outfield this season. He had a strong 2025, but is batting .233 with 11 homers and 30 RBI in 75 games.
Other names the Yankees could consider include Jo Adell of the Angels, Heliot Ramos of the Giants, Spencer Steer of the Reds, Lane Thomas of the Royals and Taylor Ward of the Orioles. The executive described them as right-handed hitters with some pop, low batting averages and below-average defense.
“As far as guys out there, Tyrone Taylor can be a piece for them,” he said. “And even if Judge and Bellinger come back and they’re fine, Taylor is a solid fourth or fifth outfielder to have.”
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