Cashman Not Desperate To Trade Catchers

Mar 5, 2014; Port Charlotte, FL, USA; New York Yankees catcher Austin Romine (53) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Even though there is not enough room for all of the Yankees catchers to make the big league club, the team is still in no rush to trade any of their young backstops. That isn’t to say that there is no interest from other teams.

Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman told reporters this week that the team is “hearing from a lot of people about” young catchers Austin Romine and John Ryan Murphy, both of whom spent a decent amount of time with the team in 2013.

Though other teams have inquired, Cashman seems to understand that both players could be useful down the road. “They’re assets. We’re not in any position where we have to do anything, but if something made sense, we’d consider it. But right now, we’re happy with what we’ve got,” Cashman said.

Romine, 25, went 14-42 (.333) in fourteen Minor League games in 2013 before being called up to be the Yankees backup catcher when Francisco Cervelli was injured early in the season. After being called up, he struggled early, hitting a mere .145 (9-62) through June.

However, in July and August Romine caught fire.

Between July and August, he hit .316 with 6 RBI and 8 runs scored. This new found offensive success began to make the Yankees take notice and even though he finished the season with a 1-for-16 September, he had made a decent impression.

Defensively, Romine was responsible for four passed balls as well as throwing out 8 of 28 (21%) base-runners attempting to steal. Though 21% is a bit below league average, he was a good receiver behind the plate and seemed comfortable with all of the pitchers on the Yankees staff.

Murphy, 22, had a solid 2013 season between Double-A and Triple-A before being called up by the Yankees in September. In 108  games, he hit a decent .269/.347/.426 with 12 home runs and 46 RBI.

In his short September stint with the big club, he went 4-for-26 (.154).

As for his defense behind the plate, base-runners went 3-for-6 (50%) in stolen base attempts. Though throwing out 50% of base-runners looks impressive, the sample size is too small.