Sports · Baseball · 3 hrs ago
Austin Wells’ 2026 season could shape the Yankees’ catcher plans
The New York Yankees are weighing their catcher options for the offseason, and Austin Wells is central to that decision.
Wells had a .504 OPS at the All-Star break, but hit better in the season’s final two months and went 5-for-15 with four RBIs in the playoffs.
He went on the injured list in June with persistent headaches after taking foul tips to his mask, though he had passed concussion tests at the time.
After returning, he switched to a hockey-style mask and said he would be more careful about his health.
If the Yankees trust his late-season improvement, they could choose a cheaper backup catcher, including a defender already in the organization or a free agent.
If they doubt his performance, they could pursue a higher-profile option such as Ryan Jeffers or Tyler Stephenson, both mentioned among the leading free-agent catchers.
Austin Wells’ 2026 performance could determine how the New York Yankees address catcher in the offseason.
He entered the All-Star break with a .504 OPS, then hit .229/.343/.441 with seven home runs over the final two months.
Wells also went 5-for-15 with four RBI in the playoffs.
He missed two weeks after persistent headaches landed him on the injured list in early June.
If the Yankees trust his second-half improvement, they could pursue a lower-cost backup; doubts could prompt them to seek a bigger upgrade.
- Who
- Austin Wells and the New York Yankees.
- What
- Wells’ 2026 season could shape the Yankees’ offseason plans at catcher.
- When
- The offseason following the 2026 season.
- Where
- New York.
- Why
- Wells’ uneven season, including a late improvement and a stint on the injured list, may affect the team’s confidence in him and its choice of backup or replacement.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Wells took a foul tip to his mask in a game against the Red Sox.
Wells took another foul tip to his mask in Milwaukee.
Persistent headaches led Wells to the injured list.
Wells returned from the injured list.
Wells hit .229/.343/.441 with seven home runs.
Wells went 5-for-15 with four RBI.
- All-Star break OPS
- .504
- Final two months
- .229/.343/.441, with seven home runs
- Playoff performance
- 5-for-15, with four RBI
- Injured-list absence
- Two weeks
- Fielding Run Value before injured-list stint
- 3 in 401 innings
- Fielding Run Value after return
- 7 in 559 innings
What people are saying
I think you look at the sample of two months there and say, ‘That wasn’t me. That wasn’t who I am.’
definitely going to be more careful and paying closer attention