Yankees’ Potential Catcher Trade Hit With Alarming Update

The New York Yankees have evidently been searching for help at catcher, which should come as no surprise given the subpar production they’ve gotten from the position all season.

Ryan Jeffers and Hunter Goodman have both been floated as potential additions for the Yankees before the MLB trade deadline, and given how strong both backstops are offensively, New York fans are certainly stoked over the possibility of acquiring either player.

But not so fast, Bronx faithful: apparently, the Yankees aren’t entirely sold on the idea of bringing in a new starting catcher. In fact, it doesn’t even sound like they plan on doing so.

Chris Kirschner of The Athletic has reported that New York is hesitant to land someone like Jeffers or Goodman because of the club’s undying trust in Austin Wells.

“Multiple team sources, who were granted anonymity in exchange for their candor, said that while the Yankees are likely to add a catcher, it would be surprising if they swung a trade at the top of the market because of that belief in Wells,” Kirschner wrote.

Kirschner added that the Yankees are not crazy about the idea of bringing in a subpar defensive catcher (like Goodman, for example), particularly in the middle of a pennant race.

New York also feels that Goodman — who just made his second straight All-Star appearance for the Colorado Rockies — might be too expensive.

“Integrating a weak defensive catcher in the middle of a season in which the Yankees believe they can compete for a World Series title would be a tall task,” Kirschner wrote. “Not to mention that Goodman, who comes with club control through 2029, would cost a haul in any trade.”

While part of the argument is understandable, it’s more than a bit alarming that New York seems comfortable making it through the entire season with Wells getting the majority of time behind the plate.

Wells’ OPS has been in the .500s for most of the year, and he owns a 53 OPS+. He’s been a massive liability offensively, and for a Yankees squad that is already missing Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and, most recently, Cody Bellinger, Wells’ lack of production stands out that much more.

Perhaps this is all a smokescreen on the part of the Bronx Bombers, but they have remained steadfast in their confidence in Wells for quite some time now.

The trade deadline is next Monday. We’ll see what New York decides to do.