The Yankees are staring at a catcher problem, and the fix may not come cheap.
Austin Wells hasn’t produced enough, so New York is already digging into trade possibilities ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline. Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins is one name in the mix, though the Twins could still be contenders and force the Yankees to look elsewhere.
That’s where the real headache begins. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic pointed out that if the Yankees want Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers, they may have to answer a tough George Lombard Jr. question.
Rosenthal wrote: "It would be one thing if the A's could land a prospect as prized as De Vries for Langeliers," Rosnethal writes. "Yankees Triple-A shortstop George Lombard Jr., whom Law ranks No. 6, is nearly at that level, but he might be close to untouchable."
That kind of price would put New York in a bind. If Lombard is off-limits, the Yankees could find themselves boxed out of some of the best catching options available.
Langeliers would be a major add. The 28-year-old is under club control through the 2028 season, made the All-Star team once, and slugged 31 home runs last season.
He’s been rolling again this year, with 22 homers in 90 games and 365 at-bats, along with a .260 batting average, .820 OPS, and 120 OPS+. He’s also sitting at 3.3 bWAR, just 0.3 shy of his career high.
Hunter Goodman is another name to watch, but the Rockies would also demand a huge return. That leaves the Yankees with a familiar deadline dilemma: is it worth moving their best prospect to solve a 2026 need and chase a World Series in what looks like a wide-open American League?
It’s a tempting idea. But Lombard’s value may be too steep for New York to swallow, and that decision could end up shaping everything the Yankees do before the deadline.
In Other News...
As Suddenly Have A Scary New Injury Concern With Kuroda-Grauer
Kuroda-Grauers rapid start has been one of the more encouraging developments for the Athletics since his MLB debut, which is why his latest trip through a game against the D-backs drew immediate attention. The rookie has been performing well enough to put himself firmly on the radar, and the As have had plenty of reason to keep watching how his bat and glove translate as he settles into the majors.
The concern arrived after he fouled a ball off his groin during the game, then stayed in briefly before being replaced on defense in the sixth inning. Oakland announced the injury afterward, and while the club has not yet offered a longer-term update, any pause for a player who has been producing this well is enough to make his status worth monitoring closely. [Read more 🡒]
As Forced Into Another Painful Roster Shakeup After Brutal Injury Night
The Athletics were forced into another roster shuffle after a rough stretch on the injury front, placing right-hander Mark Leiter on the 15-day injured list retroactive to July 19 with a right hip impingement and sending infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer to the 10-day injured list. To help cover the openings, Oakland recalled right-hander Hayden Juenger from Triple-A Las Vegas and brought back infielder Max Muncy, who had been optioned earlier this month.
For an As club already trying to piece together innings and infield depth, the timing is especially unwelcome. Juenger gives Oakland another fresh arm after arriving in a trade, while Muncy returns for a second stint with the big-league club, but the larger concern is how quickly the roster keeps changing around injuries that have already forced the team to keep adjusting on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Another A's IL Move Leaves This Thin Roster In A Tough Spot
The Athletics roster took another hit this week when right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. landed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to July 19 with a right hip impingement, while infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer also went on the 10-day IL after surgery. For a club already working with little margin for error, the timing only sharpens the strain on the depth chart and forces the front office to keep shuffling pieces just to cover innings and infield reps.
Hayden Juenger and Max Muncy were brought back up in the corresponding moves, giving Oakland a couple of fresh options as it tries to patch things together. Leiters absence is especially frustrating because the hip issue has now surfaced again this season, and with the trade deadline approaching, every missed outing matters for a pitcher whose value was already under pressure. [Read more 🡒]