Yankees catching has not been good this season, but now it is in complete flux.
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In less than 24 hours, the Yankees optioned J.C. Escarra to Triple-A, called up Ali Sánchez , placed Austin Wells on the injured list with "cervical headaches" and recalled Escarra shortly before Saturday's postponement.
Aaron Boone said Wells came in late Friday night — after the Yankees had already informed Escarra they were sending him to the minors — complaining of neck discomfort that was leading to a headache.
So the Yankees had him evaluated by a neurologist Saturday, and while he tested negative for a concussion, the headaches and the risk of playing with just one catcher were enough reason for the Yankees to put him on the 10-day IL.
Wells, who has struggled mightily at the plate for most of the season, will undergo more neck tests Sunday to determine if he is dealing with anything more serious.
Austin Wells reacts after striking out during the Yankees' June 5 game. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
"It's tough to play the game with one catcher," Boone said after Saturday's game against the Red Sox was postponed by storms. "It's not another position where — that's a tough place to be. And just with the neck, not something we want to mess around with, so feel like we kind of had to make the move."
It is not clear whether a single incident is at the root of Wells' headaches and neck issues or it is just the continual wear and tear catchers endure behind the plate, though Boone said this complaint was new as of Friday night.
A May 19 backswing by Blue Jays outfielder Jesús Sánchez drilled Wells in the helmet, though he stayed in the game after an on-field evaluation.
"It's tough to say [if that led to this]," Boone said. "Obviously catchers get hit, so it's tough to say if it's cumulative stuff. But [Friday] night, he noticed he felt like, just with the neck and headache stuff. Obviously we wanted to look into that."
J.C. Escarra (r.) is pictured during the Yankees' May 7 game. Bill Kostroun for the NY Post
Boone said he expects Wells' IL stint to be short and just require rest, but Sunday's additional testing will ultimately go a long way in determining that.
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In the meantime, the Yankees will have to figure out how to divvy up the catching duties without Wells, who had started 45 of their 63 games, in large part because of his defense and how much the Yankees value his game calling and rapport with the pitching staff.
The right-handed-hitting Sánchez — known more for his defensive reputation than his bat — had been scheduled to start Saturday's game against Red Sox lefty Ranger Suárez .
Whenever he makes his first start, he will become the first right-handed-hitting catcher to play in a game for the Yankees since Jose Trevino in the 2024 World Series.
The Yankees planned to have Sánchez spell Wells against left-handers and were going to take things day by day, which they presumably still will with Escarra now back in the fold.
Entering Saturday, the lefty-hitting Wells and Escarra had combined to hit just .171 with a .527 OPS — the worst production of any position in the Yankees lineup and, by OPS and wRC+, the third-weakest catching production of any team in the major leagues.
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"It just felt like, with our catchers struggling a little bit offensively obviously, just felt like the opportunity exists for Ali to get up here and give us a different look," Boone had said earlier Saturday before Wells went on the IL.
Sánchez, who played a combined 50 games for the Mets , Cardinals, Marlins, Blue Jays and Red Sox from 2020-2025, was not exactly lighting it up at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, batting .227 with a .702 OPS in 40 games.
He actually had worse numbers against lefty pitching, too, batting .176 with a .576 OPS in 39 plate appearances.
The potential wild card for boosting the Yankees' offensive production at catcher — at least before they pursue help at the trade deadline — would be moving Ben Rice back to his natural position, as they did for a stretch last summer.
But they have shown little inclination to do so this season, not wanting to mess with Rice's emergence as one of the best hitters in the game while playing first base.
Boone echoed general manager Brian Cashman's comments Friday by saying that throwing Rice behind the plate was not currently in their plans.
"Doesn't mean we won't do it, doesn't mean we won't get to that point," Boone said, "but it's not on the board right now."
