Home » Sports » MLB » New York Yankees

Austin Wells’ Impact On The Yankees’ Offseason

The Yankees were connected to pretty much every vaguely available catcher last season. The rumblings stemmed from a need to improve an Aaron Judge-less lineup, along with the struggles of the in-house options. Austin Wells was the key figure in…

By Charlie Wright · MLB Trade Rumors

Published: Saturday, 24 October 2026 at 11:49 PM

Key Things to Know

Austin Wells' 2026 performance will dictate whether the Yankees pursue an elite catcher or a low-cost backup.
Wells rebounded from early-season cervical headaches to hit seven homers over the final two months.
Charlie Wright suggests the Yankees could seek Ryan Jeffers or Tyler Stephenson if they doubt Wells' consistency.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Charlie Wright examines how Austin Wells' rebound will shape the New York Yankees' offseason plans at catcher. After struggling with a .504 OPS prior to the All-Star break, Wells recovered from foul-tip-induced cervical headaches to slash .229/.343/.441 with seven home runs over the final two months of the season, followed by a strong postseason display.

Wright argues that if the Yankees believe in Wells' second-half recovery and elite defense, they could settle for a low-cost backup catcher like Austin Hedges or Kyle Higashioka. However, lingering uncertainty could prompt New York to target premier options such as Ryan Jeffers, Tyler Stephenson, or trade candidates like Shea Langeliers.

Read the full article on MLB Trade Rumors

Austin Wells’ Impact On The Yankees’ Offseason

More New York Yankees News

Never Miss a Sports Update