The Yankees have a catching problem, and the trade market is where Brian Cashman has to go to fix it. Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies is the headline name, and for good reason: he’s widely viewed as the best available backstop before the deadline.
But there may be a cleaner path for New York, and it could come from across town.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported Tuesday that the Yankees are among the clubs looking for catching help, and he pointed to the possibility that the Mets could be willing to deal Francisco Alvarez.
"With a number of high-profile teams in need of catching help -- the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers, for example -- the lack of quality backstops should put teams with available catchers in a strong position to sell."
"The Mets are reportedly open to moving nearly everyone on their roster, and given that (Francisco) Alvarez is under club control through 2028, he’s one of the few players New York seems willing to move that could net a strong return," per Feinsand.
Alvarez has been solid for the Mets this season, though not spectacular. In 68 games, he has 11 home runs and an OPS of .762.
That still looks a whole lot better than what the Yankees have gotten from their catchers. Austin Wells, Ali Sanchez and J.C.
Escarra have combined for a .527 OPS, which is second-worst in the majors.
There’s also the long-term angle. Alvarez is 24 and still has three more years of arbitration eligibility left, so a deal with the Mets could give the Yankees a catcher who fits beyond just the final stretch of this season.
Goodman remains the premium name on the market, and his power is the big reason why. He has 31 home runs, third-most in the majors, and he also comes with two years of arbitration eligibility remaining. That kind of player is going to cost a lot, and for the Yankees that could mean parting with multiple top-100 prospects such as George Lombard Jr., Dax Kilby and Elmer Rodriguez.
That’s where Alvarez starts to look more appealing.
If the Mets decide to hold onto Alvarez, there’s still another possibility in Queens. FanSided’s Robert Murray reported last week that the Mets could listen on both Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens, though he added, "the likelihood of such a deal is unknown and should probably be viewed as unlikely."
Torrens, 30, is more of a secondary option behind the plate. He’s batting .229 with a .621 OPS in 61 games this season, which doesn’t exactly scream upgrade for the Yankees. Still, he did post career highs with 15 home runs and a .730 OPS in 2021, so there’s at least some track record to consider.
The Yankees also aren’t alone in the market. ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel reported that the Red Sox, Rangers, Phillies, Reds, Pirates, Twins and Padres are also looking for catching help.
So the noise around the position should only get louder as the Aug. 3 trade deadline gets closer. Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles, Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins and Shea Langeliers of the Athletics are among the names expected to draw attention.
If the Yankees want to upgrade behind the plate without making the loudest move on the board, Alvarez may be the name worth watching most closely.
In Other News...
Rockies Fans Wont Believe The Trade Idea Involving Hunter Goodman
A speculative deadline idea has started to swirl around Hunter Goodman, with the Rockies catcher drawing attention because of the kind of production and team control that usually make front offices at least do the homework. The concept comes from Bleacher Reports Zachary D. Rymer and is aimed at the 2026 MLB trade deadline, which gives it the feel of a long-range roster puzzle rather than a move with any immediate traction.
For the Yankees, the appeal is obvious enough to understand the discussion: Goodman has looked like the sort of young, productive player who can change a lineups outlook, and his contract status only adds to the intrigue. Still, this is the kind of proposal that lives entirely in the speculative lane for now, with no confirmation from either club and plenty of reason for both sides to see the situation very differently. [Read more 🡒]
Yankees May Have One Bold Infield Fix They Usually Avoid
The Yankees are still sorting through their infield picture, and the search naturally keeps circling back to shortstop and third base. One name worth watching is Zach Neto, the Angels shortstop who has shown enough offensive punch to draw attention around the league while also carrying enough questions on defense to make his fit more complicated than a simple plug-and-play move.
For New York, that complication is exactly where the intrigue starts. Netos bat makes him interesting, but the Yankees would have to think about him in a way they usually do not, with an eye on how he might fit alongside a young shortstop option like George Lombard Jr. rather than crowding him out. If the Angels are serious about dealing from that area of the roster, the Yankees could have one of those rare infield ideas that is bold enough to matter, even if the rest of the league would need to be convinced first. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Cashman Could Be Headed For A Massive Yankees Roster Purge
The Yankees are already being sized up for a roster shakeup well before the 2026 trade deadline, and the logic is familiar for a club that expects to keep chasing a championship. Brian Cashmans front office has shown a willingness to churn the back end of the 40-man roster when it sees a chance to get better, and this winter-to-summer runway could bring a fresh round of decisions shaped by performance, injuries and contract timelines.
A few names stand out as possible pieces in that process, including depth arms and position players who may be more useful as trade currency than as long-term fits in New York. The most intriguing part is how the Yankees might balance immediate help against the value of holding onto upside, especially with a prospect like Chase Hampton potentially attractive in a larger deal and a pitcher like Elmer Rodriguez looking like the kind of big-league-ready arm that could draw interest from another club. [Read more 🡒]