The Yankees are hunting for a catcher upgrade, and Hunter Goodman from Colorado looks like the prize catch at this year’s deadline.
But they’re not alone in the chase.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer predicts the Tampa Bay Rays will actually outbid New York for the Rockies’ All-Star backstop. That’s the same Tampa Bay team the Yankees are chasing in the AL East standings.
Talk about adding insult to injury.
Why Goodman Makes Sense
The numbers tell the story. Austin Wells has struggled across nearly every offensive category this season, leaving a gaping hole behind the plate for the Yankees.
Meanwhile, Goodman’s putting up 30 home runs and an .881 OPS through 93 games. The 26-year-old has back-to-back All-Star selections and remains under club control through 2029.
“Goodman’s 30 homers through 93 games this year is more than the Rays have gotten from their catchers in the last three seasons combined,” Rymer wrote.
That’s the kind of production both AL East contenders desperately need.
The Rockies’ Decision
Here’s where it gets interesting. Colorado doesn’t have to move Goodman. They’ve got him locked up for five more seasons, so this comes down to organizational philosophy.
Do the Rockies see Goodman as a cornerstone piece for their next competitive window? Or do they view him as prime trade capital to accelerate a rebuild?
“He must decide whether Hunter Goodman is a can’t-miss building block, or a can’t-miss trade chip,” Rymer noted about Rockies GM Paul DePodesta. “With back-to-back All-Star selections to his name and 30 home runs already this year, Goodman is theoretically the prized hitter on the market.”
The Bidding War
If Colorado decides to sell, expect a fierce competition between New York and Tampa Bay. Both teams have obvious needs behind the plate, and both are fighting for AL East supremacy.
The Rays have built their reputation on maximizing value and finding impact players through shrewd trades. The Yankees have the prospect capital and payroll flexibility to make a splash.
What makes this prediction particularly stinging for Yankees fans? The possibility that their division rivals could swoop in and land the best catcher available while New York settles for a lesser option.
It’s exactly the type of move that could define the rest of this AL East race.
