The New York Yankees have a long shopping list this offseason, and general manager Brian Cashman has some serious work ahead of him.
The bullpen needs help. Third base is another concern. Second base could become a problem if Jazz Chisholm Jr. leaves town.
And then there’s the catching situation.
Oh, boy.
The Yankees desperately need more production behind the plate, and Cashman has reportedly been exploring several possibilities. Big names like Hunter Goodman and Ryan Jeffers have entered the conversation, but landing either player could come with a hefty price tag.
That’s where former Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson comes into the picture.
And here’s the interesting part: Cashman has apparently had his eye on Stephenson for quite some time.
The Yankees might have found a way to address one of their biggest weaknesses without breaking the bank.
Yankees Could Target Tyler Stephenson to Fix Catching Problems
According to SNY’s Phillip Martinez, Stephenson could emerge as a legitimate offseason target for New York, especially if the Yankees decide to spend their bigger dollars elsewhere.
The 30-year-old catcher is coming off a solid season in Cincinnati, where he hit 15 home runs, drove in 54 runs, and posted a .241/.323/.404 slash line across 130 games.
Those numbers might not jump off the page, but here’s something Yankees fans should consider.
Stephenson outperformed New York catcher Austin Wells in all three slash-line categories, home runs, and RBIs during the 2026 season.
And considering how poorly Yankees catchers performed collectively, that matters quite a bit.
New York’s catchers combined for a miserable .196 batting average and .600 OPS in 2026, ranking 28th and 27th in Major League Baseball, respectively.
That’s not exactly the kind of production a team with championship aspirations wants from an everyday position.
The Yankees don’t necessarily need a superstar behind the plate. They need someone who can consistently contribute offensively.
Stephenson could fit that description.
There’s also another wrinkle worth mentioning. Stephenson can play first base, giving manager Aaron Boone some additional lineup flexibility.
And with the Yankees facing several expensive roster decisions, flexibility certainly doesn’t hurt.
Brian Cashman Previously Showed Interest in Reds Catcher
But the connection between Stephenson and New York isn’t anything new.
Back in August, MLB insider Jon Heyman reported that Cashman had already “checked on” Stephenson ahead of the trade deadline.
The Yankees were reportedly looking at several catching options, including Goodman, Jeffers, and Adley Rutschman.
Rutschman eventually landed with the Boston Red Sox, while Cashman passed on making a deal.
Now, a few months later, the Yankees are right back where they started.
Except this time, Stephenson is available without New York having to surrender prospects in a trade.
The former Reds catcher is entering free agency after completing a one-year, $6.8 million contract with Cincinnati.
And judging by recent comments from Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall, a reunion in Cincinnati might not be in the cards.
Krall suggested that bringing Stephenson back could prove too expensive for the organization.
That creates an interesting opportunity for Cashman.
Tyler Stephenson Could Give Yankees a More Affordable Option
A trade for Goodman would likely require New York to part with valuable assets, while Jeffers could command one of the bigger contracts among available free-agent catchers.
Jeffers certainly has the numbers to justify that kind of payday.
The former Minnesota Twins standout led all pending free-agent catchers with a 4.7 WAR in 2026.
Stephenson, meanwhile, finished with a respectable 2.5 WAR, the third-highest mark among unrestricted free agents at the position.
There’s a difference between the two players, no question.
But there’s also potentially a pretty significant difference in what they’ll cost.
And that’s where Cashman’s offseason strategy gets interesting.
The Yankees have too many holes to fill and only so much money they’re willing to spend. Every dollar committed to one position is a dollar that can’t be used somewhere else.
Stephenson might not be the flashiest name available, but he could provide an offensive upgrade while leaving New York with additional resources to strengthen its bullpen and address other needs.
Of course, Yankees fans have heard plenty of offseason rumors before. Interest doesn’t guarantee a signing, and Cashman has already passed on Stephenson once.
The question now is whether he’ll make a move with the catcher available on the open market.
Because after watching Yankees catchers hit .196 for an entire season, standing pat shouldn’t be a very appealing option.
