Yankees need to avoid this Ryan Jeffers alternative like the plague

It's looking more and more like Ryan Jeffers is the New York Yankees' preferred trade target to upgrade at catcher. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has reported that Jeffers is the most obvious fit for the Yankees, and New York had scouts in attendance during the Minnesota Twins' recent series in Chicago against the Cubs.

Of course, obvious does not mean likely. The Yankees will have competition for Jeffers' services, with the Tampa Bay Rays also linked to him. The Rays also had scouts in attendance for that same series. Where there's smoke, there's usually fire.

The other problem that the Yankees will have in landing Jeffers is the fact that the Twins might not actually be willing to trade him. Minnesota is just 3.0 games back of the final wild card spot, and 4.5 games back of the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox. They might end up buying rather than selling.

There are other alternatives to Jeffers, who would represent serious offensive upgrades over the undynamic duo of Austin Wells and Ali Sanchez. Shea Langeliers would be a dream, and Hunter Goodman would bring an insane level of pop from behind the plate. The problem is, they're both prohibitively expensive, if they're available at all.

Another option that many fans consider on the same tier as the trio of Jeffers, Goodman, and Langeliers is Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman. Jeff Passan reported that Baltimore is willing to listen to offers on the former first-overall pick.

It's a sentiment that former Orioles farmhand Ryan Ripken echoed on his show, and it's starting to seem like Rutschman might be more available than most other alternatives. The Yankees would be wise to pass, however.

Adley Rutschman isn't the Ryan Jeffers alternative the Yankees need to pursue

Rutschman's validity as a trade candidate has been complicated a bit by a wrist injury, though it's been billed simply as "left wrist inflammation" and isn't expected to be a long-term concern. Even so, it's what has happened before the wrist issue that is worrisome.

On the surface, Rutschman looks like an ideal target. He's a fantastic defender and the best of the group of high-end options behind the dish. On top of that, his .251/.331/.433 line is good for a 114 wRC+, making him look like a solid offensive performer, even if his bat is a step behind the likes of Goodman, Langeliers, and Jeffers.

That season line is misleading, though. Rutschman came out of the gates red hot, hitting .356/.406/.661 line over the season's first month. However, since May 1, he's hit just .218/.309/.362. That's a sample of 220 plate appearances. It's also eerily similar to the .220/.307/.366 line he turned in over 90 games last season.

He's also been fairly injury-prone in recent years. Injuries limited him last season, hence the low games played total, and the wrist injury marks his third IL trip of the season.

The Orioles being willing to listen to offers isn't the same as actively shopping him. They'd need to be blown away, and if the Yankees approached them, they'd pay even more as an intra-division tax.

So, given the injury issues, the lengthy history of uninspiring offensive performance (minus a one-month blip), and the fact that the Orioles would try to extort the Yankees, Brian Cashman would be wise to look elsewhere for catching upgrades even if Jeffers and the other top targets elude him.

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