Story by
Yankees rumors: Trade candidate turning to desperate measures to not get replaced at deadline
- Story by
- Yankees rumors: Trade candidate turning to desperate measures to not get replaced at deadline
Yankees rumors: Trade candidate turning to desperate measures to not get replaced at deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The New York Yankees remain in second place in the American League East after Saturday's loss to the Athletics . With the MLB trade deadline two months away, the Bombers are looking to improve their depth. It's an open secret that the Yankees are looking to replace JC Escarra with a right-handed hitting catcher for the stretch run. YES Network's Michael Kay says that Escarra is trying to solve that problem himself.
"So, behind the plate is Escarra, and I had a conversation with him today. And he's been working on becoming a switch-hitter," Kay said. "He's been taking batting practice right-handed, and I said, 'How come?' And he said, 'Well, I do everything else right-handed…Mechanically, I feel very locked-in right-handed. Everyone keeps saying we need a right-handed catcher. Maybe it could be me.'"
Advertisement
Escarra made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2025, serving as the backup to Austin Wells all season. He has reprised the role this year, making 61 appearances across the two seasons. Wells, Escarra, and first baseman Ben Rice, who can also catch, are all left-handed . Considering the offensive struggles from both Wells and Escarra, the Yankees should be looking to make a change before the postseason.
The Yankees made a lot of changes at last year's trade deadline, namely making Ryan McMahon the starting third baseman. They also revamped their bullpen and added bench pieces, like Austin Slater . Brian Cashman has not been afraid to make deadline moves in the past, and the catching situation has been bleak this year.
Escarra has a dreadful .517 OPS in 65 plate appearances this year. A three-hit day against the Kansas City Royals marked his only hits in his last nine appearances. Wells has a .569 OPS and just five extra-base hits in 155 plate appearances this year. In his first two seasons, his OPS was over .700. With these unsustainable numbers, a move is undoubtedly coming. Unless Escarra can change things for the better.
Related: Aaron Judge gets 100% real about Yankees historic inning vs. Athletics
Related: Yankees' unreal inning leads to never-before-seen AL feat
