The New York Yankees got absolutely swept in the American League Division Series this season, and yeah, they have some major holes to fill this offseason. With a lockout possibly looming, you know teams are gonna be scrambling to get free agents locked down, just like back in 2022. Catcher, big time, is a spot they gotta look at.
The Incumbent and The Opportunity
Look, Austin Wells finished the season strong, right? He looked way better as a hitter late in the regular season. And honestly, he was one of the only Yankees hitters who even showed up in October. But apparently, that’s not enough for the Bronx Bombers.
A New Bat Behind the Plate?
Because SNY’s John Harper just dropped a prediction: the Yankees are going to sign Ryan Jeffers in free agency. This isn’t just some random name, either. The Yankees were already trying to land a catcher at the trade deadline. Jeffers? He’s not exactly a Gold Glover behind the plate, we gotta be real. But when it comes to offense, he’s one of the absolute best catchers in the entire game.
He played 92 games last season and put up a monster .841 OPS. This dude has 82 career home runs! He is a legit 20-homer threat at catcher. He was linked to the Yankees before, and if they get him, it’s a massive upgrade over Wells. We’re talking 88th percentile for walk rate, 85th percentile for whiff rate. He pulls batted balls in the air at one of the highest rates out there. The Yankees already have sluggers, but adding Jeffers? That’s a *ton* more slug coming from the catcher spot.
So, even with Wells finishing strong, the buzz is all about Jeffers. This offseason is gonna be wild, especially if that lockout hits. Get ready, because it looks like a whole new bat is coming to the lineup behind the plate. The scramble is on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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