Could This be the End for New York Yankees' Austin Wells?

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells is certainly one of the more polarizing players on the team, and maybe even in the majors.

Offensively, Wells is a mixed bag. He possesses good pop for a backstop, having homered 21 times in 2025 with a .217 ISO. However, his .275 OBP leaves a whole lot to be desired, as does his 26.3 percent strikeout rate.

On the defensive side, we all know that Wells doesn't exactly have the best arm, but his pitch framing is genuinely elite, and that is what has made the 26-year-old valuable.

But that could be coming to a grinding halt.

Alexander Wilson of Empire Sports Media has raised a terrific point about Wells heading into 2026, noting that the arrival of the automated ball-strike system could cause complications for the former first-round pick.

"Wells made his money last year by stealing strikes, but in a world where robots call the zone, presentation means absolutely nothing," Wilson wrote.

Now, it should be noted that this isn't absolute. Umpires will still be making the calls; the difference is that now, batters can challenge balls and strikes. They can do it twice per game, but the catch is that they will retain the challenge if successful.

Regardless, this is certainly bad news for a pitch-framing expert like Wells.

"In 2025, his entire defensive profile was carried by his ability to frame pitches, ranking in the 96th percentile for Framing and saving the Yankees 12 runs with his glove work," Wilson added. "That elite skill — which placed him in the 95th percentile for Fielding Run Value — evaporates the moment the first pitch is thrown this season. Without it, he is just a catcher with 39th percentile Pop Time and average blocking skills."

You do have to wonder if the implementation of the ABS system will ultimately force the Yankees to look for other options behind the plate, specifically if Wells' offensive struggles continue.

For all of the talk about Anthony Volpe, Wells hasn't been much better at the dish, owning a lifetime .224/.294/.423 slash line. And in the playoffs? Wells owns a .468 OPS over 21 postseason games. Not ideal.

Of course, the caveat is that good catchers don't just grow on trees, which is why New York has been living with Wells' production the last couple of years.

But if Wells' most valuable trait ends up becoming obsolete, then is it really worth committing to him long term?

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