The Yankees’ search for catching help has put them in the same conversation as two other AL East rivals, and the target is an All-Star bat from Colorado.
According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, New York, Boston and Tampa Bay are all showing some level of interest in Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman. Rosenthal wrote Thursday that "Three AL East clubs - the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees - are among the teams expressing varying interest in [Hunter] Goodman, according to people briefed on the Rockies’ conversations but granted anonymity to speak freely," though it’s still not clear whether any of the three has actually put an offer on the table.
Goodman has been one of the more productive hitters in the National League this season. Through 100 games, he’s slashing .254/.326/.545 with 31 home runs and an .872 OPS.
The appeal is obvious. So are the questions.
Goodman has struck out in 33.3% of his plate appearances, and there are concerns about his work behind the plate, especially pitch framing. That defensive piece matters in New York, where the Yankees have shown they value catching defense enough to keep Austin Wells in the lineup despite his .525 OPS.
Wells also has a working relationship with the pitching staff, which gives him another layer of value. If the Yankees were to seriously pursue Goodman, there’s at least a chance their catching coordinator, Tanner Swanson, could help sharpen the defensive side of his game.
Still, any deal would likely come at a steep price. Rosenthal noted the Rockies would want a significant return for Goodman, and that could be enough to slow the Yankees down. Whether Boston or Tampa Bay would be willing to meet that asking price is the next question.
In Other News...
Rockies Fans Wont Love Who The Padres Are Eyeing In The West
The Padres are still hunting for a left-handed bat, and the search has a familiar NL West feel to it. San Diegos lineup has been the weakest in the National League in left-handed slugging and weighted on-base average, which has pushed AJ Preller toward a move that could help balance the roster, with left field looking like the most obvious place to add.
For Rockies fans, the wrinkle is who has popped up in the conversation. Dennis Lin of The Athletic reported that Preller is interested in a left-handed hitter, and one of the names tied to that pursuit has spent his entire big league career in the division and is now wearing Colorado colors after coming over from Arizona. If the Padres keep pressing, the Rockies could wind up watching a rival try to solve a problem in a way that hits close to home. [Read more 🡒]
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What makes the ranking sting is how much it says about the rosters current shape. Colorado can point to a few players who might bring something back, but the list also reflects a team trying to sort through pieces that have either redefined their roles or quietly become more attractive than they were a month ago. In that kind of market, every name gets a hard look, and the front office is left weighing not just who can help another club, but who still fits into the Rockies own long-term picture. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Fans Wont Like Where Trade Buzz Is Building Around This Bat
With the trade deadline approaching, the Astros are looking for a left-handed hitting outfielder, and the search has put a familiar Rockies name into the conversation. Houston is sitting at .500 but still has a path to the AL West, which is why ESPNs Jeff Passan has framed the outfield as one of the spots the front office may try to upgrade if it wants to make a real push.
For Colorado, the appeal is obvious because the bat in question has given the club a legitimate spark this season, with better production at home and enough speed to add another dimension on the bases. The catch for Rockies fans is that a contender can see more than just a useful piece here, it can see a player who would immediately improve a current weakness, and that is exactly the kind of buzz that tends to linger once deadline chatter starts building. [Read more 🡒]