It’s no secret that New York Yankee catchers have underperformed in 2026. In 40 games, starting catcher Austin Wells is hitting .165 with a .559 OPS and six RBI. His backup counterpart, J.C. Escarra, isn’t any better. Even after a three-hit performance on Monday, Escarra has an identical .559 OPS and a -0.1 WAR in 19 games.
The Yankees have no shortage of offensive firepower, as the team leads the American League in runs, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, and OPS. Thus, subpar production at one position isn’t enough to deflate the group. However, for a team with World Series aspirations, the Yankees need insurance at all positions.
Tier A Option: Liam Hicks, Miami Marlins
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Despite being a third of the way through his second full season, Liam Hicks has firmly established himself as one of the best catchers in baseball. In 171 career games, Hicks has hit .256 with 17 home runs and 89 RBI. He’s also exhibited great plate discipline with 74 strikeouts and 60 walks. At 26-years-old, Hicks offers several years of team control as he doesn’t hit arbitration until 2028. The Miami Marlins, however, might be apt to keep him, considering they’ve won 79 or more games in two of the past three seasons.
Tier B Option: Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies
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At first glance, it’s easy to write off Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman and credit his success to Coors Field. However, a deeper dive into his numbers suggests his road production is better than his home production. In 81 home at-bats in 2026, Goodman is hitting .198 with a .370 slugging percentage and a .640 OPS. But in 106 road at-bats, Goodman is hitting .274 with a .523 slugging percentage and an .853 OPS. For the season, Goodman is hitting .241 with 11 home runs and 19 RBI, a step down from his 2025 Silver Slugger campaign. Still, even in a down year, his numbers are much better than Wells’ or Escarra’s.
Tier C Option: Miguel Amaya, Chicago Cubs
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Of the three options, Miguel Amaya is the only player who doesn’t play every day. Thus, with veteran Carson Kelly and rookie Moises Ballesteros seeing most of the action, Amaya has the highest likelihood of being dealt. Amaya has appeared in 32 games so far in 2026, serving primarily as a platoon hitter against left-handed pitchers, a group he’s hit .333 against in 27 at-bats. The Chicago Cubs wouldn’t ask for much in a trade, meaning the Yankees could upgrade the position for cheap.
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