Heading into the MLB trade deadline, the New York Yankees clearly required reinforcements behind the plate. Ultimately, they decided to make no moves at all.
Instead, they stood by as Adley Rutschman was sent to their fierce rivals, the Boston Red Sox, and witnessed Liam Hicks get shipped to the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.
What was the Yankees’ response? They chose to stick with Austin Wells, ridiculously citing his pitch-framing abilities as the reason. Then, on Friday, New York picked up Mitch Garver, who had recently been cut by the Seattle Mariners.
Garver was a productive player once, but that was quite some time ago. This year, his slash line stands at a meager .175/.302/.294 along with four homers and 15 RBIs. He carries a .596 OPS, which, in a comical twist, still easily outpaces Wells’ performance.
However, his arrival does little to shift the team’s outlook, and there is a legitimate question of whether he represents any real improvement over Ali Sanchez right now.
The acquisition of Garver has only angered the fanbase, with many questioning why the front office failed to secure a reliable backstop prior to the trade deadline.
Mitch Garver. Photo: James A. Pittman-Imagn Images.
To be fair, it is easy to understand why the Yankees passed on a deal for Rutschman. The Baltimore Orioles reportedly demanded George Lombard Jr. in exchange, making New York’s decision to walk away entirely logical.
But how do we explain the missed opportunity with Hicks? While the Rays sacrificed a significant package to the Miami Marlins to acquire him, none of the prospects involved in that trade held the same value as Lombard.
The Yankees likely could have finalized a deal for Hicks if they had made it a priority. Instead, they opted to roll with Wells and his disappointing .557 OPS.
It is true that integrating a new catcher in the middle of the season is tough, as it forces the player and the pitching staff to quickly adapt to one another. Nevertheless, this situation demanded immediate action.
As a result, New York must wait until the offseason to fix their catching woes, and that is only if the front office actually intends to replace Wells in the starting lineup.
The Yankees appear oddly committed to Wells. This devotion could stem from his status as a past first-round selection, or perhaps they truly view him as a defensive mastermind on par with Pudge Rodriguez.
Regardless of the reasoning, the choice to sign Garver after the deadline passed has left the Bronx faithful feeling deeply unsatisfied.
