The New York Yankees have received a discouraging report on their chances of signing free-agent catcher Ryan Jeffers this offseason.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic indicated that the former Minnesota Twins player is “too expensive” for New York, even as general manager Brian Cashman looks to address multiple roster needs.
Jeffers, widely viewed as the top available catcher on the market, earned $6.7 million in 2026 while hitting .256 with 14 home runs, 56 RBIs and an .814 OPS. The Twins extended a one-year qualifying offer of $23.15 million, which Jeffers intends to decline in favor of a multi-year deal, according to Bob Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Tim Britton of The Athletic has projected a three-year, $45 million contract for Jeffers. That figure has made the Yankees hesitant, given their broader offseason priorities that include bullpen help, a second baseman to replace Jazz Chisholm Jr., a third baseman and a center fielder.
New York’s catching production was among the weakest in Major League Baseball last season. Yankees catchers combined for a .196 batting average and roughly a .600 OPS, ranking near the bottom of the league. Austin Wells, the primary backstop, hit .186 with a .624 OPS.
Wells is expected to retain a significant role in 2027, and the Yankees prefer a right-handed bat to pair with the left-handed hitter. That setup creates complications with another free-agent catcher, Tyler Stephenson, who has been linked to New York but wants to be an everyday starter.
If both Jeffers and Stephenson prove out of reach, the Yankees could turn to veteran Carson Kelly. The former Chicago Cubs catcher posted a .258/.336/.376 slash line and .713 OPS in 2026 while providing solid defense behind the plate.
Kelly led National League catchers with a .998 fielding percentage in 2025 and has a stronger track record of throwing out baserunners than both Jeffers and Stephenson. His lower expected cost would also leave more resources for other roster holes.
Cashman has already handled one smaller piece of business. The Yankees re-signed left-handed reliever Tim Hill to a one-year, $2.25 million deal that includes a $2.5 million club option for 2028, according to multiple reports including those from Jeff Passan of ESPN and Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
Hill, who posted a 4.60 ERA in 2026, returns for a fourth season with New York. The move gives the bullpen a familiar ground-ball specialist who has been effective against left-handed hitters, but Cashman has indicated further relief pitching remains a priority.
The Yankees finished 93-68 in 2026 and reached the postseason, yet the catching production stood out as a clear weakness. Adding an offensive upgrade without overspending remains the challenge for the front office.
Teams interested in Jeffers face a competitive market after he declined the qualifying offer. Minnesota has expressed interest in bringing him back on a longer deal, which could further drive up his price or remove him from the open market.
For the Yankees, the combination of cost, draft-pick compensation attached to a qualifying-offer free agent, and other needs makes a major commitment at catcher less appealing. Kelly or similar mid-tier options could fill the role of a complementary right-handed bat without the same financial strain.
Cashman must balance short-term upgrades with longer-term flexibility. The early re-signing of Hill shows a willingness to act on smaller deals, but larger moves at catcher and elsewhere will define the rest of the offseason.
Whether the Yankees pursue Kelly aggressively or monitor the Jeffers market remains to be seen. Either way, improving production behind the plate is expected to be part of their plan heading into 2027.
