The Yankees’ Biggest Problem Is Actually Behind the Plate. One Trade Target Could Fix It.

The New York Yankees have a catcher problem. And it’s gotten bad enough that even the most casual fan has noticed.

Austin Wells is hitting .148 with four homers and 10 RBIs. That’s not a slump. That’s a crisis. The Yankees offense has been sliding for weeks, and while the infield has its own issues, the production from behind the plate has been the quiet killer. Quiet because nobody talks about it much. But opposing teams definitely notice.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Yankees have their eyes on Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers. He’s an impending free agent, and the Twins might be willing to move him even though they’re still in the mix. Passan wrote that Jeffers “suits the Yankees perfectly” thanks to his right-handed pop and steady production. That’s not exactly subtle.

Jeffers isn’t the only name in play

Passan also mentioned Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies. Goodman is a different kind of bet. He’s under team control for three more years beyond this season, so Colorado would want a real haul. The problem? Goodman doesn’t walk much and he strikes out a lot. The Yankees already strike out a lot. Adding another guy who swings and misses might not be the smartest move. But Passan made the point that if the Yankees can get him, they should — because waiting for perfection when you have a real shot at the AL this year is dangerous.

This isn’t the first time the Yankees have kicked the tires on Jeffers. The interest has been there for a while. What’s changed is the urgency. The team started the season on fire and now they’re sliding down the standings. Injuries are piling up. The lineup looks thin. And the trade deadline is weeks away.

So the front office has a choice. They can sit tight, hope guys get healthy, and ride it out. Or they can make a move. Go get a catcher who can actually hit. Because right now, the Yankees are getting almost nothing from one of the most important positions on the field.

Passan didn’t say the Yankees are close to a deal. But he put the possibility out there in a way that makes you think conversations are happening. The interesting thing is the Twins are still positioned well in their own division. Moving Jeffers would be a real signal that they’re thinking about the future more than the present. And for the Yankees, picking up a guy with his kind of bat and experience behind the plate could change the whole look of the lineup.

The Yankees don’t need to be perfect. They just need to be better than they are right now. That’s the whole story.