The New York Yankees are in need of a catcher, and they appear to be targeting Minnesota Twins star Ryan Jeffers before the MLB trade deadline.

In fact, it was reported on Sunday morning that the Yankees are the top destination for Jeffers.

However, New York just received some tough news on a potential Jeffers trade, and it was something completely out of the Yankees’ control.

What happened? Well, Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers — who was also viewed as a potential trade candidate — suffered a torn meniscus on Saturday night, likely ending his season.

There was no guarantee the A’s were going to move Langeliers, who just made his first All-Star appearance and is under team control through 2028. But there was at least a chance.

Now that everyone knows Langeliers is off the market, the Twins — who have had reservations about moving Jeffers in the middle of a pennant race to begin with — may have just upped the ante.

The Yankees were already likely going to have to pay a hefty price for Jeffers, who owns a .922 OPS in 45 games this season (he missed a good chunk of the year due to a hamate fracture). Now, Minnesota’s asking price has likely increased.

That’s especially considering the Colorado Rockies don’t seem likely to move Hunter Goodman, who would unquestionably be the top catcher on the market if the Rockies decided to make him available.

New York has a reputation of being stingy with its prospects, so Brian Cashman was probably already leery about swinging a deal for Jeffers, especially with the 29-year-old slated to hit free agency next winter.

But now that Langeliers will likely be sidelined for the remainder of 2026, Cashman’s cost for Jeffers surely increased quite a bit more.

The trade deadline is Aug. 3, so the Yankees still have time to get something done. But with Austin Wells in the middle of a horrendous campaign and New York needing an answer behind the plate, Cashman may have no choice but to bite the bullet.

And now, the Twins are licking their chops.