Yankees’ Are ‘Making It No Secret’ That They Want Ryan Jeffers

[TheLeviathan]

2 hours ago, Brandon said:

Why is this team not a contender?  What happens if they acquire a good reliever or two at the deadline?  We have a top scoring team and average rotation with an ace.  Our pen is the problem.  I'm not saying that will make us a great team but one who will compete for division title or a Wild Card.  Getting into the playoffs is a bonus and could increase next year's payroll some, maybe 10-15 million.  Not much but I'll take it.  

Below .500.  Terrible defense.  Inconsistent.  No bullpen.  

[strumdatjag]

Why not get the Dodgers into a bidding war for Jeffers with the Yankees?   The Dodgers have left town with its top catcher (Will Smith)  still injured “indefinitely” and rookie catcher Dalton Rushing reportedly being controversial (Shohei Ohtani apparently doesn’t like him and there have been numerous complaints from opponents that he is a “dirty player” with alleged attitude issues). 
Why not let the Dodgers dump its perceived “problem”, Rushing who just happens to have a 799 OPS and is just a rookie, for Jeffers?  The Dodgers can add a good  prospect, since they are the team with the “problem”!
Catching prospects Diaw and Tait meanwhile are waiting in the wings at AA and High A for the Twins. 
Some of you might be wary of a catcher with an alleged “attitude problem.”  But the Twins did well with one a few decades ago.   Remember that guy - when he played for the other team you hated him, but when he played for your own team you hated him less (paraphrasing Ozzie Guillen).   Indeed, Jeffers and Mitch Garver apparently didn’t get along.  
Moreover, with Rushing on the Twins, the team could also deal Caratini to another contender for another prospect (hopefully a future bullpen stud).   Alex Jackson is still here as back-up with those prospects soon knocking on the door. With Victor Caratini gone,  Dan Gladden would only have to mispronounce his name (CaraNtini) when his new team played the Twins. 
 

[jorgenswest]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

You really think public statements fool anyone? Teams are already talking.... They just aren't moving yet. 

I think if a team is on the fringe of the wild card it makes a difference. It might even help to add a minor piece in a reliever to show that they aren’t going to sell off for whatever they can get.

The challenge with Jeffers is there hasn’t been a market for catchers at the deadline. Catchers don’t play everyday. Catchers need to learn a pitching staff. Teams are content enough with a defense first catcher that knows their pitching staff to look elsewhere for upgrades. We need someone to join the Yankees or they need to believe the Twins will walk away from a sub par offer.

[tony&rodney]

8 hours ago, strumdatjag said:

Why not get the Dodgers into a bidding war for Jeffers with the Yankees?   The Dodgers have left town with its top catcher (Will Smith)  still injured “indefinitely” and rookie catcher Dalton Rushing reportedly being controversial (Shohei Ohtani apparently doesn’t like him and there have been numerous complaints from opponents that he is a “dirty player” with alleged attitude issues). 
Why not let the Dodgers dump its perceived “problem”, Rushing who just happens to have a 799 OPS and is just a rookie, for Jeffers?  The Dodgers can add a good  prospect, since they are the team with the “problem”!
Catching prospects Diaw and Tait meanwhile are waiting in the wings at AA and High A for the Twins. 
Some of you might be wary of a catcher with an alleged “attitude problem.”  But the Twins did well with one a few decades ago.   Remember that guy - when he played for the other team you hated him, but when he played for your own team you hated him less (paraphrasing Ozzie Guillen).   Indeed, Jeffers and Mitch Garver apparently didn’t get along.  
Moreover, with Rushing on the Twins, the team could also deal Caratini to another contender for another prospect (hopefully a future bullpen stud).   Alex Jackson is still here as back-up with those prospects soon knocking on the door. With Victor Caratini gone,  Dan Gladden would only have to mispronounce his name (CaraNtini) when his new team played the Twins. 
 

Rushing isn't much of a catcher. That other guy you mentioned was a damn good catcher and was terrific at the plate. So many long at bats where he fouled off pitch after pitch. Rushing? six pitches and two Ks. 

Rushing is a no thank you please guy.

I do think I would call the Dodgers to ask what they are willing to offer. Maybe River Ryan, Christian Zazueta.

[Brandon]

23 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Below .500.  Terrible defense.  Inconsistent.  No bullpen.  

But the whole league is not a contender by your definition except maybe the Rays and Yankees.  The Twins are not far off from a playoff spot as a wild card.  If we are close at the trade deadline, we already have to be a buyer based on Tom Pohlads quotes.  We have top tier offense, solid bench and rotation the defense is suspect at best in some areas and the bullpen has issues that acquiring two good arms helps solve.  So again how are we not a contender when we are a few games out?

[TheLeviathan]

8 minutes ago, Brandon said:

But the whole league is not a contender by your definition except maybe the Rays and Yankees.  The Twins are not far off from a playoff spot as a wild card.  If we are close at the trade deadline, we already have to be a buyer based on Tom Pohlads quotes.  We have top tier offense, solid bench and rotation the defense is suspect at best in some areas and the bullpen has issues that acquiring two good arms helps solve.  So again how are we not a contender when we are a few games out?

Being the best of the worst is basically you're argument....I find that to be a low bar for "contender"

[Brandon]

21 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Being the best of the worst is basically you're argument....I find that to be a low bar for "contender"

They are not a perennial contender as is, they should keep rebuilding giving opportunities to those who earn it  but that shouldn't stop them from being small buyers for bullpen arms cause fixing their pen could allow the team a better shot to sneak into the playoffs.  I would be happier with a playoff chase then giving up on the season and saying maybe next year. 

Speaking of next year our rotation should have Lopez, Ryan and Abel and Taj in it.  Maybe Ober but I'm doubtful at this point.  I also hope to see some of our young hitters up so next season they are prepared to go.  

[TheLeviathan]

8 minutes ago, Brandon said:

They are not a perennial contender as is, they should keep rebuilding giving opportunities to those who earn it  but that shouldn't stop them from being small buyers for bullpen arms cause fixing their pen could allow the team a better shot to sneak into the playoffs.  I would be happier with a playoff chase then giving up on the season and saying maybe next year. 

Speaking of next year our rotation should have Lopez, Ryan and Abel and Taj in it.  Maybe Ober but I'm doubtful at this point.  I also hope to see some of our young hitters up so next season they are prepared to go.  

I also share some future optimism....all the more reason to sell high or on assets with less team control to build around the future.

Passing on future assets for an 81 win team seems silly.

[Linus]

1 hour ago, TheLeviathan said:

I also share some future optimism....all the more reason to sell high or on assets with less team control to build around the future.

Passing on future assets for an 81 win team seems silly.

It’s especially silly for 75 win teams. 

[Brandon]

1 hour ago, TheLeviathan said:

I also share some future optimism....all the more reason to sell high or on assets with less team control to build around the future.

Passing on future assets for an 81 win team seems silly.

Skipping out on an opportunity to win is silly!  There are times it makes sense to just give up. But if you always give up because you have some preconceived idea of what it takes to win and that path can severely restrict your opportunities.  By what you are saying the 87 Twins should have quit and sold off and rebuilt.  I am sure your glad they didn't.  I'm not saying this team is the 87 Twins.  But say Wallner and Culpepper comes up and makes our offense more dangerous and if Rojas or Ober comes back and is solid down the stretch and we acquire two good relievers, that could be the difference in getting to the playoffs and maybe winning a series in a season they aren't supposed to is way more fun than watching the throw the season for prospects.  That shouldn't be the norm.  Especially with low fan morale as is.

[TheLeviathan]

2 hours ago, Linus said:

It’s especially silly for 75 win teams. 

Gulity as charged for strongmanning his position.  Low 70s still feels righr to me too.

[TheLeviathan]

2 hours ago, Brandon said:

Skipping out on an opportunity to win is silly!  There are times it makes sense to just give up. But if you always give up because you have some preconceived idea of what it takes to win and that path can severely restrict your opportunities.  By what you are saying the 87 Twins should have quit and sold off and rebuilt.  I am sure your glad they didn't.  I'm not saying this team is the 87 Twins.  But say Wallner and Culpepper comes up and makes our offense more dangerous and if Rojas or Ober comes back and is solid down the stretch and we acquire two good relievers, that could be the difference in getting to the playoffs and maybe winning a series in a season they aren't supposed to is way more fun than watching the throw the season for prospects.  That shouldn't be the norm.  Especially with low fan morale as is.

You have so many ifs in here I couldn't possibly calculate the odds of all of it happening plus no other setbacks.

You are engaged in wishful thinking.  That's for lottery tickets not MLB front office work.

[HarmonK03]

On 6/23/2026 at 1:10 PM, Cody Christie said:

Victor Caratini has shown throughout his career that he can handle a larger workload

Caratini has had two years catching over 90 games, topping out at 101.  And these two years were two of his worst OPS. I am not sure how you came to the conclusion he can handle a larger workload when he hasn't before in his career and will be 33 next year.  I realize we may be stuck with him if we don't retain Jeffers, but to consider him a full time or even 3/4 is another part of the failed legacy left behind by Falvey.

[HarmonK03]

On 6/23/2026 at 1:29 PM, Linus said:

Our farm system needs a shot in the arm and this is a great way to get that process started. 

We don't play the prospects we have now, what specific needs do you see,  We have a glut of outfield candidates, supposedly a couple of catchers ready in the next two years.  And our development of prospects is suspect at best.  So before bringing more in to the organization it would be nice to see a plan..

[Linus]

1 minute ago, karcherd said:

We don't play the prospects we have now, what specific needs do you see,  We have a glut of outfield candidates, supposedly a couple of catchers ready in the next two years.  And our development of prospects is suspect at best.  So before bringing more in to the organization it would be nice to see a plan..

Not playing prospects is part of the problem. If the Twins are going to be good they need upgrades at every position except CF. Your “glut” of outfield prospects might yield one good player. Your catching is in A ball and likely more to bust than be good in the bigs. So fine you and Tom P can sit on your hands and see where it gets you. 

[HarmonK03]

1 minute ago, Linus said:

Not playing prospects is part of the problem. If the Twins are going to be good they need upgrades at every position except CF. Your “glut” of outfield prospects might yield one good player. Your catching is in A ball and likely more to bust than be good in the bigs. So fine you and Tom P can sit on your hands and see where it gets you. 

No if we are going to trade, I want major league ready players, not a hope that they turn into something type.  We have enough of those that we need to start figuring out what we have.  

[Linus]

5 minutes ago, karcherd said:

No if we are going to trade, I want major league ready players, not a hope that they turn into something type.  We have enough of those that we need to start figuring out what we have.  

Then we are in agreement . Jeffers and Ryan can bring back players that can contribute right away. Larnach might return a useful reliever. Trading people doesn’t mean taking A ball guys.