The Yankees are still hunting for a catcher, but the board keeps shrinking.
For weeks, it’s been clear New York planned to shop for a right-handed bat behind the plate before the trade deadline. The deadline is now less than four hours away, and the Yankees still haven’t landed the big move they’ve been waiting for.
One name is already gone. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the Tampa Bay Rays have acquired Liam Hicks from the Miami Marlins. Hicks bats left-handed, which made him a clunky fit for the Yankees anyway, given that Austin Wells is already in the mix.
That leaves New York staring at fewer and fewer options. Another possible target, Baltimore Orioles switch-hitter Adley Rutschman, appears to be headed elsewhere. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported this afternoon that the Boston Red Sox are close to getting him.
"The Red Sox and O's have a deal arranged for Adley Rutschman," Olney wrote on X. "Prospects, medicals set. Red Sox just need to say yay or nay."
If that report holds, the Yankees may have to scramble for Plan B. The New York Post’s Joel Sherman said the club had been pushing hard for Rutschman, with Elmer Rodriguez discussed as a key piece in the deal.
"The Yankees were very much trying for Adley Rutschman. Elmer Rodriguez was being discussed as a key to the trade," the New York Post's Joel Sherman wrote.
"With Liam Hicks off the market now too, NYY has to pivot elsewhere for a catcher. Tyler Stephenson?"
Now the pressure is squarely on Brian Cashman. With Hicks off the table and Rutschman potentially headed to Boston, the Yankees’ catcher search is running out of runway.
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According to reports, the club has continued to monitor Washingtons infield market while looking for another move that would address the lingering issue. The interest points toward a player who has been productive this season, and the price could require Boston to part with a notable major league piece or a pitcher from the current roster mix. [Read more 🡒]
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Red Sox Face One Huge Deadline Decision On A Star Catcher
The Red Sox are staring at a late-breaking catcher decision with real consequences, as Boston and Baltimore have already lined up the framework of a potential deal involving Adley Rutschman. Prospects have been identified, medical information has been exchanged and the sides have gotten far enough along that the only remaining hurdle is Bostons final approval.
Rutschmans status adds another layer to the pause, since he is dealing with an injury that has kept him out. For a Red Sox club weighing both the short-term fit and the long-term cost, that makes this less about simply adding a name and more about deciding whether the timing, health and price all line up well enough to move forward. [Read more 🡒]