The Yankees are looking to bring in some extra catching depth, according to Erik Boland of 'Newsday.'
The club’s primary backstops last summer were Jose Trevino and Kyle Higashioka. While both of those players remain with the team this year and both remain healthy, the depth options below that tandem seem to be running on empty.
Running through a list of the walking wounded at backstop, Ben Rortvedt recently required shoulder surgery and will be shut down for at least a month. Marly Rivera of ESPN and Chris Kirshner of 'The Athletic' reported Wednesday that Austin Wells has a broken rib and will be out of action for six to eight weeks. And on Thursday, Josh Breaux was added to the pile with an apparent elbow injury which will keep him from even throwing for at least few weeks, per Kirshner and Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Given all those injuries, it’s not surprising that the club is looking to bring in a fresh body, especially for Spring Training purposes. Split-squad games, side sessions, intersquad games, live bullpens and so on are all peppered throughout the exhibition season, in order for the entire pitching staff to get up to speed on roughly the same timeline. In addition to the injuries, Higashioka is set to depart soon to participate in the World Baseball Classic for Team USA.
The idea of the Yankees pursuing a catcher might have some fans dreaming of a reunion with Gary Sánchez as the former Yankee is clearly the top catcher still available in free agency. However, Boland throws cold water on that, suggesting the addition would be someone more like Rob Brantly, who was with the Yanks last year. Brantly is in camp with the Blue Jays on a minor league deal, but that veteran journeyman is more the kind of player the Yankees are seemingly eyeing.
Aside from Sanchez, there are still a few catchers who remain unsigned, such as Robinson Chirinos, Chris Okey, Beau Taylor, Deivy Grullón, Joseph Odom and Ryan Lavarnway, though Lavarnway is slated to play for Team Israel in the WBC.
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