The New York Yankees have received some awful news regarding the catcher position.
At this point, it seems safe to say that the Austin Wells experiment has been an abject failure for the New York Yankees.
Wells entered the big leagues in 2023 and played his first full season in 2024, showing some promise during that campaign after slashing .229/.322/.395. The numbers weren't great by any stretch, but he put together some strong at-bats, and the walk rate was encouraging.
Then, last season, Wells' walk rate plummeted and his strikeout rate increased, leading to a .219/.275/.436 slash line. He flashed some pop with 21 home runs, but for the most part, Wells took a step back offensively in 2025.
This season was supposed to be a turning point for Wells, and in a way, it has been. But not in the way the Yankees had hoped.
Wells' production has taken a nose dive in 2026, as he is batting just .155 with a .504 OPS. He has logged just 13 RBI through 220 plate appearances, and to say that patience is running thin would be putting it lightly.
It's obvious that New York needs an upgrade at the catcher position, and with the MLB trade deadline approaching, many have been under the hopeful impression that Yankees swing a big deal for someone like Ryan Jeffers or Hunter Goodman.
The problem? Neither backstop is expected to be available.
New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells. Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images.Bob Nightengale of USA Today has reported that neither the Minnesota Twins nor the Colorado Rockies have any interest in moving their prized catchers, which should not come as much of a surprise.
The Twins are still very much alive in the AL Central race, and barring a collapse before the Aug. 3 deadline, they seem more likely to add pieces than subtract.
As for the Rockies? They aren't contending for a playoff spot, but Goodman is under club control through 2029. He has smashed 27 homers this season, and he just earned his second straight All-Star appearance.
There is absolutely zero reason for Colorado to trade Goodman right now, and the only way the Rockies would even entertain such a thing is if New York offered a king's ransom of a package in exchange for the 26-year-old. The Yankees don't seem likely to do that.
That means New York may very well be stuck with Wells as its starting catcher for the rest of the season.
Yes, there are some other backstops the Yanks can target, such as Christian Vazquez in Houston, but Vazquez isn't the most enticing option in the world.
It's looking more and more like the Yankees' catcher situation will remain mostly unchanged over the next couple of weeks, which could spell very bad news for New York's chances of making a deep postseason run.
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