The Yankees are already shopping for help behind the plate, and on Friday night they sent a scout to get a closer look at one possible answer.
According to LaVelle E. Neal III, the Yankees had a scout at the Angels-Twins game to watch Minnesota catcher Ryan Jeffers.
The timing makes sense. New York’s catchers have been a problem all season, combining to hit just .175/.252/.272, a number that reflects how thin the production has been at one of the game’s most important spots.
Jeffers, who returned from a hamate bone injury that had kept him out since May 18, went 1 for 4 with a double in that game.
Jeffers has put together a strong season when healthy. The 29-year-old is hitting .294/.408/.540 with seven home runs in 38 games, and he has drawn more walks than strikeouts.
Over parts of seven MLB seasons, he owns a career OPS+ of 109. He is set to reach free agency this offseason.
The Twins may not be eager to move him, though, with the club three games out of first in the AL Central and one game back in the race for the third AL wild card spot. Darren Wolfson also reported that the Rays were there to scout Jeffers.
Elsewhere, the Pirates and White Sox completed a deal Friday evening that carries real draft-day consequences.
Pittsburgh acquired reserve infielder Jacob Gonzalez and left-handed reliever Brandon Eisert from Chicago in exchange for the 34th overall pick in Saturday’s MLB Draft and minor league reliever Jaden Woods, ESPN reported. The Pirates are expected to use Gonzalez, a 24-year-old rookie and former No. 15 overall pick in 2023, as their regular shortstop while Konnor Griffin is out with a thumb injury.
Eisert, 28, has posted an ERA+ of 88 and a 4.52 FIP across parts of three major league seasons. For the White Sox, the key return is the draft capital: MLB allows competitive-balance picks to be traded, and Chicago now holds the Nos. 1, 34, and 41 selections on Saturday, along with the bonus pool space tied to that No. 34 pick.
Woods, 24, has a 4.61 ERA with 218 strikeouts in 173 ⅔ innings across parts of four minor league seasons. He reached Triple-A this year.
In Other News...
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The bigger long-range buzz, though, is about what the Rays might do with the No. 2 pick in the upcoming MLB Draft. Early chatter has them tied to high school shortstop Grady Emerson, a sign that Tampa Bay could be aiming high on upside again as it keeps scanning for the next wave of talent to fit its system. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Veteran Finally Got The Recognition Fans Knew He Deserved
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Now Martinez is headed into his next start against the Mariners with a little more shine around him, a nod that reflects how well he has pitched and how quickly he has become part of the fabric of the club. For a pitcher who has earned such strong respect in the room, the recognition feels overdue, even if the bigger question is how Tampa Bay will keep leaning on him after this latest turn in the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Rasmussen Suddenly Needs This All-Star Break More Than Ever
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His last two starts have been rough enough to nudge his season numbers in the wrong direction, and the break gives him a chance to step back, reset and get his body right before the second half. For a pitcher who looked like he had found another gear just weeks ago, the pause may be coming at exactly the right time, especially with the Rays counting on him to look more like the June version than the one who has been hit hard lately. [Read more 🡒]