​The New York Yankees are not trying to hide their interest in upgrading at catcher, and the latest report makes that clear. With the team sitting 4.0 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East, making a move by the trade deadline seems essential if they want a realistic chance to win the division. While bullpen help, the left side of the infield, and the rotation are all considerations, the catcher position stands out as the most obvious need for this club, and recent reporting underscores that sense.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Yankees are “making it no secret” that they want to add a catcher this summer, specifically Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers or Colorado Rockies slugger Hunter Goodman. Nightengale’s piece quotes the Yankees as actively pursuing one of these two options, signaling a clear preference to bolster the backstop position with a right-handed bat who can contribute at the plate.
The potential target that might be more realistic for this season is Jeffers. He’s posted a .294 batting average with a .948 OPS and seven homers across 126 at-bats this year, and he’s returned from the injured list after a stretch on the IL, having recently doubled in four at-bats. At a modest one-year rental price of about $6.7 million, Jeffers represents a more feasible trade option than Goodman, who is under Rockies control through 2029 and enjoying a standout season before the All-Star break. Goodman, an All-Star for the second time in his career, is hitting .251 with 27 homers and a 2.2 bWAR and an .862 OPS, which makes Colorado less inclined to part with him.
Given those dynamics, Jeffers emerges as the Yankees’ best target among the two, though the club has signaled openness to either option this summer. For a team seeking a potent offensive presence behind the plate, a slugger like Jeffers or Goodman would bring much-needed power from the catcher spot. Austin Wells has shown some shortcomings offensively, which heightens the appeal of a true catching upgrade, particularly a right-handed hitter who can complement the current lineup.
As the trade deadline approaches, New York will weigh the practicality of acquiring Jeffers or Goodman against the Rockies’ potential reluctance to move Goodman, who is enjoying a high level of value and control. The Yankees’ publicized interest signals a clear intent: they want to add a catcher who can deliver pop and run production from the middle of the order, and they are prepared to pursue one of these two options to shore up the position as they chase a division title.