When Yankees manager Aaron Boone talks about J.C. Escarra, you’d think he’s describing one of the top catchers in the league. Boone believes Escarra could easily rank among the top 10-15 catchers if he were in the lineup every day.
However, the Yankees have a bit of a logjam behind the plate. Austin Wells is the primary catcher, with Ben Rice also in the mix.
All three catchers bat left-handed, which complicates Escarra’s path to more playing time. Despite his strong defensive skills and solid offensive contributions when given the chance, there just isn’t room for him right now.
The Yankees seem content to keep Escarra as their backup, but there’s a case to be made for exploring his trade value. Many teams would benefit from a catcher of his caliber.
As noted by the X account Foolish Baseball, Escarra was rated as a plus defensive catcher by Statcast last year. His offensive potential is intriguing, too, with nearly as many walks as strikeouts in 2025, and impressive bat speed and exit velocity.
If the Yankees were to test the waters, they might find Escarra has significant trade value. Or perhaps they’ve already quietly gauged interest and found other teams don’t share Boone’s high opinion.
Having a dependable backup catcher is never a bad thing, but the Yankees might benefit from adding a right-handed bat or another pitcher. Escarra could be seen as surplus to their needs.
If Boone and the Yankees are truly sold on Escarra’s potential, they might consider trading one of their other catchers. It’s a decision that requires boldness, but for now, the Yankees are maintaining the status quo.