The Yankees know they need help behind the plate, and the trade deadline is starting to narrow the options. Brian Cashman has already called the catcher situation an “issue” as the second half approaches, and while Austin Wells has popped a few home runs lately, the overall picture still hasn’t been encouraging.
If New York can’t land Hunter Goodman from the Colorado Rockies or Ryan Jeffers from the Minnesota Twins, the Athletics’ Jonah Heim could be a fallback worth keeping on the radar.
“Jonah Heim is probably the most valuable expiring contract for the A's to dangle at the deadline. The 31-year-old is a former All-Star and Gold Glove winner at catcher,” FanSided's Christopher Kline wrote Monday.
Kline also pointed to how the Athletics have used Heim since Shea Langeliers’ breakout changed the depth chart. “The [Shea] Langeliers explosion has forced Heim to spend a lot of time at first base or DH, but he's still razor-sharp behind home plate,” Kline added. “Any team looking to upgrade its catcher at-bats without a huge defensive sacrifice should inquire.”
That kind of profile lines up with what the Yankees need, even if Heim isn’t a perfect fit. He’s a switch-hitter, but most of his value for New York would likely come against left-handed pitching.
The split is clear. In 78 at-bats against southpaws in 2026, Heim is hitting .295 with a .962 OPS. Against right-handers, those numbers fall to .174 and .541 in 86 at-bats.
“The numbers under the hood are a bit worrisome, and Heim's track record at the plate is not terribly inspiring. He definitely benefits from playing at Sutter Health Park,” Kline added.
“That said, Heim's clutch-time heroics have become difficult to ignore. He delivers in big spots and brings extremely positive vibes, on top of a valuable skill set at a position where consistent offensive production is scarce.”
Heim wouldn’t bring the same buzz as Goodman or Jeffers, but for a Yankees club looking for a more experienced bat than Ali Sanchez, he fits the backup-plan lane.
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