With the trade deadline less than a month away on Aug. 3, the market is starting to take shape - and right now it looks like sellers have the upper hand. Thanks to the expanded playoff field, only six teams are more than five games out of playoff position, which means the next few weeks could determine just how many clubs actually decide to unload.
One of the more intriguing possibilities involves a position that has been a problem for the Yankees all season: catcher. Through 89 games, Yankees catchers are hitting just .172/.252/.253 with a negative WAR, and Austin Wells has not matched the production expected after his Rookie of the Year finalist season. According to The Athletic, New York is looking at Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers, who is currently on a rehab assignment while recovering from a hamate injury.
The Yankees may not have a clear lane, though. The Rays, who lead the AL East, are also reportedly in the mix for catching help.
Nick Fortes has handled most of the work behind the plate for Tampa Bay and is hitting .259/.301/.347, so it makes sense that they’d be looking at the same upgrade. That opens the door to a potential AL East bidding war.
Jeffers would be a major addition for either club. In 37 games this season, he’s hitting .295/.408/.541 with seven home runs and a 163 OPS+.
Minnesota’s role in all this is still murky. The Twins are only four games out of first in the AL Central and 1 ½ games back in the wild card race, so their status as sellers is anything but settled. Even so, they do have Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson, which could make Jeffers available even if they don’t fully commit to selling.
The Mets, meanwhile, are one of the few teams clearly out of the race. They sit 16 games back in the NL East and 11 ½ out of a wild card spot, which puts them in position to add to the farm system.
The bigger question is how aggressive they want to be. According to SNY, they are not planning a full teardown, because they want to contend next season.
But they do have plenty of pieces they can move.
The Mets are expected to listen on almost everyone, though they are not committed to dealing the whole roster. Players on expiring contracts - Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, Brooks Raley, A.J.
Minter, and Tyrone Taylor - would be available unless something changes their long-term outlook with the club. If the Mets were to explore an extension for Holmes, for instance, that could alter the plan.
Peralta is the headliner in that group. He’s having a rough season, but last year he finished fifth in Cy Young voting and he’s a two-time All-Star with playoff experience. That makes him a natural change-of-scenery candidate.
Holmes brings a different kind of appeal. He’s close to returning from a fibula fracture and had been excellent before the injury, posting a 2.39 ERA in nine starts. His player option for next season is not expected to be picked up.
SNY also mentioned Luke Weaver, who is under team control through 2027, and Francisco Alvarez, who is under team control through 2029, as possible names for buyers to watch. Those contracts make both players more expensive and less likely to move if the Mets still see themselves as contenders next year.
Then there’s Bo Bichette, another name that has entered the conversation. He’s on a three-year, $126 million deal with an opt-out after this season.
His year has been mostly quiet, but he has caught fire lately, hitting .350/.373/.564 over his last 29 games. If that stretch continues, he’d likely opt out, and if the Mets think that’s coming, do they move him now?
And would another team take on that money?
It’s the kind of situation that bears watching as the deadline gets closer.
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