Yankees-Reds trade idea is more realistic than Ryan Jeffers, Hunter Goodman

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It's no secret that the New York Yankees will look for a right-handed hitting catcher at the trade deadline.

The offensive production from Yankees catchers (Austin Wells, Ali Sanchez, J.C. Escarra) has pretty much been nonexistent.

The Yankees need an upgrade, but it may not come from their top two targets: Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins and Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies.

The Twins are still in the postseason race and should be looking to add, not subtract. Meanwhile, Goodman is pre-arbitration eligible and still has three years before he reaches free agency.

If neither the Twins nor Rockies are willing to budge, New York may be out of luck. Or, they could turn to the Cincinnati Reds for Plan C.

"[Tyler] Stephenson is set to hit free agency after the year, and given how he's performing, he isn't a player they should want to keep around long term — especially with top prospect Alfredo Duno waiting in the wings," FanSided's Zachary Rotman wrote about Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson.

Stephenson's offensive numbers (.238/.319/.361, 6 HR, .680 OPS) don't jump off the page, but they are an upgrade over Wells and Sanchez's.

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"Given the lack of catchers expected to be available at the deadline, the Reds might be able to get something decent for Stephenson, making the decision to trade him even easier," Rotman added.

If the Yankees swing and miss on Jeffers and Goodman, Stephenson is a good fallback option. The Yankees can platoon him with Wells, or make him the starter in the postseason.

He becomes a free agent at the end of the season, so there's no long-term commitment.