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Yankees sign the catching solution no one asked for as trade deadline insurance

But why?
Adam Weinrib
Adam Weinrib

Yanks Go Yard

Feb 21, 2025; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Christian Bethancourt (60) participates in media day at the Blue Jays Player Development Complex. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

The Yankees' celebration of backup catcher Ali Sánchez's first MLB home run this week was joyous, but felt a little over the top. Sadly, they probably went all out to make Sánchez's moment such a capital-M Moment because ... well, he's likely to be off the roster next week.

Sánchez doesn't have minor-league options, so if the Yankees trade for catching help to supplement Austin Wells (Ryan Jeffers? Liam Hicks? Ivan Herrera? Tyler Stephenson?), their current backup will be DFA'd and most likely claimed. As he should be! The man has been rock solid! The issue has been Wells' historically putrid bat, not Sánchez's competent backup work. But ... if the Yankees like the consistency with which Wells has handled the pitching staff and don't want to mess with a good thing (we get it), then Sánchez will be the odd man out.

Knowing that, the Yankees brought in another catcher under-the-radar this week, mainly to hold down the fort at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as Sánchez more than likely moves on.

Christian Bethancourt, the former Braves and Padres top prospect — traded for Casey Kelly! two-time Futures Game participant! — was signed to a minor-league deal on Tuesday afternoon. He somehow posted 0.8 bWAR in 24 games for the Chicago Cubs two seasons ago, hitting .281. You could do worse. Slightly. You could do slightly worse.

Yankees catching rumors after minor-league Christian Bethancourt addition

As bizarre as it sounds, the Bethancourt add actually should get the rumor mill buzzing, given that he's protection for the loss of Sánchez amid an MLB roster shift. Names have gone back and forth for weeks, building momentum and being chopped down by forces beyond their control (injuries, like Shea Langeliers) or forces they've helped control (that meansRyan Jeffers, who's helped make the Twins too good to sell).

Right now, Joel Sherman doesn't believe Hunter Goodman is available, and doesn't think the Yankees want to displace Austin Wells entirely anyhow. That would also seemingly rule out Hicks of the Marlins, another lefty catcher (this again) whose forte is not defense. If he joins the Yankees, he'd be a Wells caddy and DH/first baseman, which ... we already have those, and they're currently free of charge. Herrera, the Cardinals' slugger, is also a catcher in name only; he's mostly a bat.

Everything begins to circle back to Tyler Stephenson of the Reds, a Jeffers overpay to convince the Twins to pursue a hybrid model, or a total surprise. Regardless of the decision, adding Bethancourt indicates the Yankees are still preparing to explore the catcher market until they've snagged the one they want.

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib is a Content Director on the FanSided network, and has been the co-editor at Yanks Go Yard for 6 years. He also co-hosts The Baseball Insiders Podcast thrice weekly, alongside FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray, as well as the Yanks Go Yard Podcast. Previously, he was a Senior Editor at 12up.com, and has been covering MLB and NFL for 10 years. He was also a headline and features contributor at ClickHole and Onion Sports, as well as the Associate Producer of the ESPN 30 for 30 film "Believeland". An avowed fan of the New York sports teams -- specifically the Yankees -- as well as the North Carolina Tar Heels, you can find Adam complaining mid-game on Twitter, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn if the game goes really poorly.