The Yankees are expected to shop at the deadline, and catcher is one of the clearest holes on the roster. Ryan Jeffers has already been connected to New York, and Hunter Goodman is another name in the mix. On paper, either one would look like a major upgrade for a group that badly needs more production behind the plate.
But there’s a wrinkle here, and it may be the very thing that keeps the Yankees from pulling the trigger. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com pointed to a concern that goes beyond batting averages and home runs: bringing in a new catcher could interfere with a pitching staff that has been exceptional all year.
“Catcher is a different situation; despite their offensive woes at the position, introducing a new catcher into the mix could disrupt the pitching staff, which currently owns the best ERA in the Majors,” Feinsand writes.
That’s the tension the Yankees have to sort through. Austin Wells has had a brutal season, posting a .488 OPS and a .153 batting average, and the backup options haven’t done much to steady things. From a pure offense standpoint, the case for an upgrade is obvious.
Jeffers would bring a strong bat, as he carried a .949 OPS before going on the injured list early in the season. Goodman would bring power, with 26 home runs already this year. Either player would give the Yankees a much-needed jolt.
The hesitation comes from the possibility that changing the catcher could affect how the staff works. If the rotation and bullpen are already humming, the Yankees may wonder whether adding offense at that spot is worth the risk, especially if the price tag is steep. Goodman, in particular, could cost a lot.
Even so, the need is real enough that the Yankees should at least keep pushing if Jeffers or Goodman becomes available. The production at catcher has been so poor that the upside is hard to ignore.
For now, the decision remains open, and it’s one of the more interesting questions heading toward the August 3 trade deadline.
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