Clunky Ryan Jeffers trade alternative could scratch a known Yankees itch

Ryan Jeffers is the catcher it seems that the New York Yankees want, but he may not be the catcher that the Yankees get. Jeff Passan said that Jeffers to New York felt "preordained" a few days ago. That might not be the case anymore.

The Twins are now reportedly looking to contend as they enter action on July 30 just 1.5 games back from the Cleveland Guardians for the final American League Wild Card spot. That means they'll likely be operating as buyers rather than sellers, though there's one caveat. Jeffers is a free-agent-to-be, and their chances of retaining him over the winter are slim. There's still a possibility they could move him if they're blown away, though not all agree.

The alternatives if Jeffers is pulled back off the block are few and far between. Shea Langeliers might be done for the season with a torn meniscus. Hunter Goodman will be prohibitively expensive. Adley Rutschman isn't as good as his name value suggests.

But sometimes as the baseball universe takes one option off the table, it presents another. That could be the case with the new report from Mark Feinsand that the Miami Marlins are willing to listen to offers for (occasional) catcher Liam Hicks.

Liam Hicks doesn't check all the Yankees boxes, but he could be a worthwhile catcher upgrade anyway

One of the common prerequisites in New York's catcher search has been a right-handed bat. Hicks is not that, as he bats from the left side, but that might not be as much of a problem as one might think.

Although the Yankees' lineup is very lefty-heavy, the idea that they must find a right-handed-hitting backstop stemmed from the notion that such a player could platoon with the lefty-swinging Austin Wells. Except, as time has gone on, Wells has been so atrocious that he shouldn't really factor into the equation.

The next issue with Hicks is that he hasn't been an all-the-time catcher. This year, he's played 37 games at the position while logging 39 games at DH and another 25 at first base. Last season, he played 62 of his 119 games behind the plate.

Defensively, he's not terrible, though. Last season, he struggled controlling the run game, but ranked in the 56th percentile in blocking and framing. This year, he's been better at cutting down runners, though his framing and blocking have taken a step back. Still, he might be just good enough to play back there.

Offensively, he's a unique player. He strikes out just 9.8% of the time, which ranks in the 98th percentile. He walks at a slightly above-average clip, coming in at 9.3%. His whiff rate of 10.8% is also ranked in the 98th percentile, and he squares balls up at a 97th percentile mark.

Don't expect him to light up Statcast with his exit velocities, though. The 27-year-old's 85.2 miles per hour average exit velo ranks in the fifth percentile, and his 30.4% hard-hit rate comes in at the 11th percentile.

Still, he's put together a very productive .282/.359/.439 line with a surprising 14 homers. If he played his games in Yankee Stadium, that homer total would rise to 16. In a way, he's a Luis Arraez-type hitterwith a bit more pop and more walks, though a lower batting average.

He's not a perfect fit, but he gives the Yankees the contact prowess they need while limiting strikeouts. Most importantly, he'd be an upgrade over Wells, and that alone makes him worthy of a good long look.

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