What happened: With the August 3rd trade deadline approaching, the New York Yankees are being floated as a potential trade partner for the Minnesota Twins, who sit at 40-45 in the AL Central. Three names stand out as fits: catcher Ryan Jeffers, left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers, and right-handed starter Joe Ryan. Whether Minnesota sells will likely hinge on how its next few series unfold.
Why it matters: New York is still hunting for offensive and pitching reinforcements for a postseason run in the AL East. Ryan Jeffers, a pending free agent, would address the catching spot, while Joe Ryan offers ace-caliber upside at a steeper prospect cost. Rogers fits the front office's pattern of buying low on relievers with inflated ERAs but stronger underlying metrics, a need given the bullpen's struggles against left-handed hitters.
By the numbers: Jeffers is slashing .295/.408/.541 (.949 OPS, 162 OPS+) across 37 of Minnesota's 85 games while recovering from a fractured left hamate bone. Joe Ryan carries a 3.18 ERA innings with 2.7 fWAR already in 2026, with one year of arbitration remaining. Taylor Rogers owns a 6.16 ERA inflated by a high BABIP and career-low groundball and strikeout rates. The Twins are 4.5 games behind the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox.
What to watch: A three-game set in the Bronx over July 4th weekend looms as a barometer for whether Minnesota buys or sells ahead of the deadline.