Yankees Could Solve Their Catching Problem With a Creative Red Sox Trade

The New York Yankees have a catcher problem. It’s not a secret, and it’s not getting fixed by itself.

Through the first part of the season, Yankees catchers have hit a combined .181 with a .271 on-base percentage and a .270 slugging percentage. That’s a 53 wRC+, meaning they’ve been 47 percent worse than the average hitter at the plate. Only the White Sox and Phillies have gotten less production from the position, and Chicago has been without Kyle Teel all season due to injury.

Austin Wells handles the pitching staff well, but his bat hasn’t caught up. Ben Rice can hit, but the Yankees don’t want to risk him behind the plate full time. So where does that leave them?

Enter Willson Contreras. The 34-year-old is now a full-time first baseman for the Red Sox, and he’s not going back to catching every day at his age. But the Yankees might not need him to.

The Flexibility Factor

Ben Rice is having a huge year at first base. He’s one of the best hitters in the league right now. And here’s the thing: he can catch. He came up through the system as a catcher, and he still loves the position.

“I love catching,” Rice told the New York Post. “Right now, it hasn’t been in the equation as much. With that being said, I always appreciate the position so much. That’s why I still enjoy sitting in on the [catching] meetings and talking with our catchers about game planning.”

The Yankees wouldn’t throw Rice behind the plate full time in the middle of the season. But once a week? On a day when Ryan Weathers is starting? That could work. Put Rice at catcher, move Contreras to first base. On the days when a top arm like Cam Schlittler is on the mound, you slot Contreras at DH and let Wells handle the glove work.

It’s not a perfect setup. But it’s flexible. And the Yankees need that flexibility if they want to maximize their lineup every night.

What a Trade Offer Could Look Like

The Red Sox and Yankees don’t trade often. The rivalry adds a premium to any deal. So if the Yankees want Contreras, they’re probably sending two prospects.

One name to watch is outfield prospect Jace Avina. The 22-year-old has raw power from the right side and doesn’t chase much, according to MLB.com. He’s split time across all three outfield positions in 2025 and has a knack for throwing out baserunners. The knock on him is contact — he struggles to catch up to in-zone fastballs, and that keeps his average down.

The second piece could be Mac Heuer, a 22-year-old arm who’s projected to hit the majors in 2028. He sits 93-95 mph with a fastball that plays up in the zone but gets crushed when he misses. His mid-80s slider can be nasty when it’s working, but he’s inconsistent with it. Scouts aren’t sold on his delivery, and his command is below average right now.

Two prospects for a 34-year-old who’s still mashing? That feels reasonable. The Yankees would be buying offense and lineup flexibility. Whether the Red Sox pick up the phone is another story.