Yankees rumors: Skubal, Miller, Abrams, catching options

The 2026 Trade Deadline is five days away, and as usual, the Yankees are considering a wide range of targets.

Tarik Skubal, Mason Miller, CJ Abrams and Ryan Jeffers are among the players the Yankees have been linked to of late. Here's a roundup of the latest rumblings involving the Bronx Bombers.

Are Yankees in on Skubal?

The Athletic reported Tuesday that multiple teams -- the Yankees among them -- were planning to start calling Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris about Skubal on the heels of a three-game losing streak that dropped Detroit to 50-57.

Read more here on Skubal's market and the Yankees' chances of landing the Detroit ace.

What about Miller?

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported last week that the Yankees had emerged as one of the top suitors for the Padres' flamethrowing closer. However, the chances of a Miller trade are looking more unlikely by the day. After falling to 50-53 on July 23, the Padres have won five straight games and currently sit just 1 1/2 games out in the race for the third National League Wild Card spot.

Even if Miller remains available, it may be tough for the two sides to line up on a trade. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Padres general manager A.J. Preller has been telling teams that no one in their organization can be off limits if they want to trade for Miller, but the Yanks reportedly consider prospects George Lombard Jr. and Carlos Lagrange to be non-starters in trade talks.

What are their catching options?

It's no secret that the Yankees want to add a catcher, given Austin Wells' struggles at the plate this season. However, their options to do so appear limited.

The Yanks have been frequently linked to Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers over the past few weeks, but Minnesota general manager Jeremy Zoll said Tuesday that the team views itself as a buyer.

The A's Shea Langeliers and the Rockies' Hunter Goodman have been mentioned as potential targets as well. But Langeliers is no longer in play after tearing his meniscus, and Goodman is unlikely to be traded unless Colorado gets a massive return.

So where else might New York turn to fill its catching need? MLB.com's Mark Feinsand breaks down the market here.

Could they make a play for Abrams?

According to a report from The Athletic on Saturday, the Yankees “checked in on” Abrams, Washington's All-Star shortstop.

Per The Athletic's report, people briefed on the club’s thinking said that while the Nats aren’t shopping Abrams, they are at least willing to listen to offers, making him the best hitter available in a lean market for bats.

Abrams is a poor defender at short, but the Yankees may be willing to overlook that for the chance to add his offensive production. He could handle shortstop duties for New York this season before potentially replacing pending free agent Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base in 2027, with Lombard expected to be New York’s shortstop of the future.

How will Belli's injury affect their plans?

The outfield also has become a bigger concern for the Yankees as the Deadline approaches. Already without Aaron Judge, New York lost Cody Bellinger to a left hamstring strain over the weekend that is expected to keep him out four to six weeks.

With Giancarlo Stanton on the IL as well, the Yankees' lineup is very heavy on left-handed hitters at the moment, so they could seek a righty-hitting outfielder.

Per Heyman, the Yankees aren't too keen on Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. due to his own lengthy injury history, but players such as the Blue Jays' George Springer, the Angels' Jo Adell and Jorge Soler and the Royals' Lane Thomas could be fits. The Orioles' Taylor Ward and the Giants' Heliot Ramos are two other outfielders who may entice New York.

What would help the Yankees most, of course, would be to get their captain back. That doesn't appear to be on the horizon, however. Judge is still not able to resume baseball activities. Manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that the slugger's fractured right rib is still in "letting-it-heal mode."