Full Breakdown
Yankees Eye Rockies’ Power-Hitting Catcher Hunter Goodman Before Trade Deadline
7/18/2026, 12:41:47 AM
Core Situation
The New York Yankees have reached out to the Colorado Rockies about acquiring right-handed catcher Hunter Goodman, according to ESPN baseball reporter Jorge Castillo. The Yankees’ current catching group—Austin Wells, Ali Sanchez and J.C. Escarra—ranks last in MLB with a .521 OPS and 46 wRC+, prompting the club to explore an upgrade ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Goodman’s Appeal
Goodman, a two-time All-Star, is under team control through 2029 and is batting .254 with 27 home runs, 51 RBI and an .862 OPS this season. His barrel rate of 16.6% sits in the 96th percentile, and his 75.3 mph bat speed ranks in the 88th percentile, placing him among the league’s top-five hitting backstops.
Trade Competition and Alternatives
Analysts note that the Yankees are also linked to Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers and Reds backstop Tyler Stephenson. Jeffers is in a contract year, while Stephenson, a former first-round pick turning 30 in August, could serve as a short-term rental. The Rockies, however, may retain Goodman as a cornerstone of their rebuild, especially given his arbitration eligibility for three more seasons.
Analyst Commentary
> "Even with Austin Wells hitting a pair of home runs in New York's final few games before the All-Star Break, the Yankees have a year-to-date \"as catcher\" triple-slash of .176/.251/.270," — Kerry Miller, Bleacher Report
> "Everyone has been connecting them to Minnesota's Ryan Jeffers for a while now, but Cincinnati's Tyler Stephenson is exponentially more likely to actually end up on the trade block." — Kerry Miller, Bleacher Report
> "If the Rockies are willing to move Goodman with three years of arbitration eligibility remaining, it might be the crown jewel of this year's trade deadline," — Kerry Miller, Bleacher Report
> "If not, there's nothing worth getting excited about here." — Kerry Miller, Bleacher Report
Outlook
Should the Rockies decide to part with Goodman, the Yankees could offer pitching prospects such as Elmer Rodriguez or Ben Hess. If Colorado holds firm, the Yankees are expected to pivot toward Jeffers, Stephenson, or other catching options before the deadline closes.
