Austin Wells homers as Yankees, Rays scout Twins catcher
The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays scouted Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers on Friday, even as Austin Wells hit home runs on consecutive days. Yankees GM Brian Cashman still calls catching an "issue," and New York is openly pursuing slugging backstops before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The Pirates and White Sox also completed a draft-impacting trade.
Major League Baseball's trade deadline is still weeks away, but front offices are already moving. For the Yankees, the catching position has become one of the most urgent roster questions of the summer — and BlasterPost's Fintech & Crypto Alerts desk is tracking how high-stakes deadline math can reshape contender rosters the same way market-moving deals shift portfolios.
Key Takeaways
- Yankees and Rays scouts watched Ryan Jeffers return from a hamate injury in Friday's Angels-Twins game.
- Austin Wells homered in back-to-back games July 10-11, but Cashman still labels Yankees catching an "issue, clearly."
- New York is making it "no secret" it wants Twins slugger Jeffers or Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman.
- Pirates acquired Jacob Gonzalez and Brandon Eisert from the White Sox for the No. 34 draft pick and pitcher Jaden Woods.
- Chicago now holds the Nos. 1, 34, and 41 picks in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Why Are the Yankees and Rays Scouting Ryan Jeffers?
According to CBS Sports, the Yankees sent a scout to Friday's Angels-Twins game to evaluate Jeffers, who went 1-for-4 with a double in his return from a hamate bone injury that sidelined him since May 18. Darren Wolfson reported the AL East-leading Rays were also on hand.
Yankees catchers have produced a brutal .175/.252/.272 slash line this season, creating a massive offensive deficit at a premium position. Jeffers entered Friday batting .294/.408/.540 with seven home runs in 38 games and is eligible for free agency after 2026.
It is not certain the Twins would trade him. Minnesota sits three games out of the AL Central lead and one game back of the third wild-card spot. Per Yahoo Sports, ESPN's Jeff Passan called Jeffers the Yankees' "best match" as a right-handed rental, while Colorado's Hunter Goodman remains the "dream match" with three more years of club control.
Can Austin Wells' Hot Streak End the Yankees' Trade Hunt?
The New York Post reported Wells homered in back-to-back games against Tampa Bay on July 10 and Washington on July 11 — his first home runs since May 22. Through 64 games, he was batting .153 with six homers, 12 RBIs and a .504 OPS.
Speaking before a series finale in Tampa, Cashman called the catching situation an "issue, clearly," while adding he hopes Wells "continues to develop." Yahoo Sports noted the Yankees are not hiding their deadline plans, with Bob Nightengale reporting they want Jeffers or Goodman to supply right-handed power.
Wells grades as an above-average framer and has earned pitchers' trust, but two July homers do not erase a historically poor offensive season. The Yankees have the rest of July to decide whether Wells' surge is real or whether they must pay up for a half-season rental.
What Did the Pirates-White Sox Trade Mean for the Draft?
On Friday evening, Pittsburgh acquired reserve infielder Jacob Gonzalez and lefty reliever Brandon Eisert from Chicago in exchange for the 34th overall pick in Saturday's MLB Draft and minor league reliever Jaden Woods, per ESPN reporting cited by CBS Sports.
Gonzalez, a 24-year-old rookie and former No. 15 overall pick in 2023, is expected to be Pittsburgh's regular shortstop while phenom Konnor Griffin recovers from a thumb injury. Eisert, 28, has pitched parts of three MLB seasons.
MLB permits trading competitive-balance picks, so the White Sox gained the No. 34 selection and associated bonus-pool space. Chicago now holds the Nos. 1, 34, and 41 picks. Woods, 24, reached triple-A in 2026 with 218 strikeouts in 173⅔ minor league innings.