CATCHING FACTORY
The New York Yankees earned the “catching factory” moniker by having 8 active MLB catchers who started their careers with the organization:
- Kyle Higashioka (36) Texas Rangers
- Carlos Narvaez (27) Boston Red Sox
- Agustin Ramirez (24) Miami Marlins
- Ben Rice (27) New York Yankees
- Jesus Rodriguez (24) San Francisco Giants
- Gary Sanchez (33) Milwaukee Brewers
- Luis Torrens (30) New York Mets
- Austin Wells (26) New York Yankees
That does not include the following catchers who are either currently in pinstripes or spent time in the Bronx:
- JC Escarra (31) New York Yankees
- Jose Trevino (33) Cincinnati Reds
However, they emptied the coffers last July when they traded Rodriguez to the Giants in the Camilo Doval deal, and highly touted catchers Rafael Flores Jr and Edgleen Perez to the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of the David Bednar deal.
That leaves the Yanks without a catcher among their Top 30 prospects. And it puts pressure on their current catching duo to pull their offensive load ahead of the July 31 MLB Trade Deadline.
CATCHING WOES
Despite playing in 36 games with 130 plate appearances, Wells has only 5 RBIs — the same number that Cody Bellinger had on April 18 against the Kansas City Royals.
Austin Wells’ reputation has completely turned upside down since he arrived for a 19-game cameo in 2023. The Yankees were expecting a plus hitter with average receiving skills, not a superb defender who continues to struggle in the batter’s box:
GAMES | HITS | 2B | HR | RBI | AVE | OBP | OPS | |
2023 | 19 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 13 | .229 | .257 | .742 |
2024 | 115 | 81 | 18 | 13 | 55 | .229 | .322 | .718 |
2025 | 126 | 88 | 22 | 21 | 71 | .219 | .275 | .712 |
2026 | 36 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 5 | .173 | .292 | .556 |
With converted catcher Ben Rice seemingly locked in at 1B, the only alternative on the roster is 31-year-old journeyman JC Escarra. Ironically, the former Uber driver has more RBIs than Wells, but since he’s also a lefty, he’s not a serious candidate to platoon with him.
With no help lurking on the farm, it becomes very likely that GM Brian Cashman will be searching for a right-handed hitting catcher to platoon with Wells at the July 31 Trade Deadline.
ANTHONY VOLPE
We are only five games into Volpe’s 2026 season, way too early to make a long-term judgment. However, his first 20 at bats do provide a reminder that when he has the right approach at the plate, he is a legitimate major league player.
Volpe has shown patience (7 walks) and is not swinging from his heels on every pitch. He’s been using the whole field and making better contact — though he still has four strikeouts.
I’m hopeful that the Yankees’ decision to send him down after his rehab stint, and their declaration that Jose Caballero will regain his starting gig when he returns from the IL, will have a lasting effect on Volpe.
Like Wells, Volpe arrived in the majors with the expectation that he would be a plus hitter and average defender. If he can bottle his current approach, he becomes more valuable to the Yankees. Whether as a starter, utility man, or trade bait.
DOWN ON THE FARM
There’s 74 days until the deadline, plenty of time for last year’s trade deadline acquisitions Bednar, Jake Bird, and Doval to send a message that they are ready to be consistent performers down the stretch.
However, whether it’s from inside or outside the organization, the Yankees are sure to be looking for bullpen reinforcements. One name that keeps coming up is the Bombers’ fourth-ranked prospect Carlos Lagrange.
The 22-year-old right-handed starter is regularly hitting triple digits at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. However, he is struggling with his control, walking 21 in 38.1 innings. All told, he’s started 9 games, is 0-2 with a 4.46 ERA and 52 strikeouts.
If Lagrange finds the command he showed in spring training, he can be this year’s Joba Chamberlain. If not, more prospects will be shipped out for veteran relievers.
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