The New York Yankees have a catcher problem. It’s not a secret. They’ve been shopping for help behind the plate ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline, and the list of potential targets keeps getting longer. But here’s the twist that might raise some eyebrows in the Bronx: they’re reportedly looking at a guy from their own division.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees have checked in on Baltimore Orioles star catcher Adley Rutschman. Yes, that Adley Rutschman. The three-time All-Star. The switch-hitter who’s been a thorn in the Yankees’ side since he debuted.
Heyman posted on X that the Yankees are among several teams that have “kicked the tires” on Rutschman. He also noted the team is casting a wide net, with names like Ryan Jeffers and Tyler Stephenson also in the mix. Jeffers, a pending free agent, seemed like a logical fit, but the Twins have signaled they’re buyers now, not sellers.
A bat the Yankees desperately need
Let’s be real about what the Yankees are working with behind the plate. Through Wednesday, their catchers had a wOBA of .246 and a wRC+ of 54. Both rank second-worst in Major League Baseball. J.C. Escarra, Austin Wells, and Ali Sanchez aren’t getting it done with the bats, and it’s been dragging the lineup down.
Rutschman would change that in a hurry. He’s currently on the 10-day injured list with a wrist issue, but it doesn’t sound like a season-ender. This year he’s hitting .251 with a .331 on-base percentage, a .433 slugging percentage, and eight home runs. Those numbers aren’t MVP-level, but they’re a massive upgrade over what the Yankees have now. A shot in the arm, basically.
The logistics are tricky
Trading within the division is always complicated. The Orioles and Yankees don’t exactly do each other favors. Baltimore signed Rutschman to a one-year, $7.25 million deal in January to avoid arbitration, and he still has another year of arbitration eligibility before hitting free agency in 2027. That means he’s not a rental. The O’s would want a haul in return.
But the fact that the Yankees are even asking suggests they’re serious about fixing this position. Whether it’s Rutschman or someone else, they’re not going to roll into October with this catching production. Not with a World Series window that feels wide open.
Rutschman is 28 years old and one of the best two-way catchers in the game when healthy. The wrist thing is worth monitoring, but it’s not expected to linger. For now, it’s just a phone call. But in the rumor mill, that’s enough to get people talking.
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