The New York Yankees are considering a move to sign free agent catcher Ryan Jeffers to share playing time with Austin Wells behind the plate. Sources including ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney and producer Paul “Hembo” Hembekides have linked Jeffers to the Yankees, suggesting a three-year deal worth $48 million could be on the table.
Jeffers, 29, became a free agent after spending last season with the Minnesota Twins. He hit .256 with 14 home runs, 56 RBIs, and posted an .814 OPS in 2026. The Yankees see him as a way to ease some of the workload from Wells, who is a left-handed hitter but not projected to catch more than 110 games per year.
“They like Austin Wells a lot,” Hembekides said on Olney’s podcast. “Austin Wells is not a 110-game a year catcher though. You put Ryan Jeffers back there and platoon him with Austin Wells, all of a sudden you have a really favorable catching situation.”
The potential deal would mirror the Yankees’ recent use of Paul Goldschmidt at first base. Goldschmidt, also a free agent, has expressed an interest in returning for 2027, having served as a right-handed hitting platoon player. Olney suggested Jeffers could fill a similar role behind the plate, taking some of the plate appearances that Goldschmidt handled last season.
“Maybe they work out something where he kind of takes some of the plate appearances that Paul Goldschmidt had last year if that makes sense, except he works behind the plate,” Olney said.
Hembekides added that Jeffers’ offensive abilities may be underrated. “He also mashes both sides of the platoon. He’s a way better hitter than most people realize, which is to say you could afford to use him at DH or even at first base and not lose any offense when doing so.”
The Yankees have been linked to Jeffers since the trade deadline, when he was still with the Twins, and the talks have reportedly intensified now that he is officially a free agent. The club’s interest in Wells remains strong, but they appear focused on securing a complementary option to manage the demanding catcher position.
Paul Goldschmidt’s future with the Yankees remains uncertain even as he has shown interest in returning. If the Yankees decide to move on from Goldschmidt, signing Jeffers would give them a left-right platoon behind the plate that could balance offensive production and durability.
No official announcement has been made by the Yankees or Jeffers’ representatives. The potential three-year contract discussed by Olney and Hembekides would make Jeffers one of the higher-paid catchers on the free agent market this offseason.
The Yankees’ catchers have struggled with workload and injuries in recent seasons, and adding Jeffers would offer manager Aaron Boone more flexibility in managing playing time. Wells, a promising young catcher, would benefit from sharing duties with a player who has experience in both starting and platoon scenarios.
Jeffers’ ability to hit from both sides of the plate provides versatility the Yankees could use in matchups and late-game situations. His demonstrated power last season with 14 home runs and solid on-base skills make him a valuable candidate for the Yankees’ roster.
The situation remains fluid as the Yankees weigh their options at catcher and first base, with Goldschmidt’s status still unresolved. The possibility of a Jeffers-Wells platoon represents a strategic approach to managing player health and offensive output in 2027.
For now, the Yankees have not confirmed any deal, but sources close to the team expect discussions to continue in the coming weeks.
According to Yahoo Sports.