Austin Wells addresses Yankees catching upgrade rumors
Austin Wells said he knows the Yankees are looking to upgrade at catcher before the Aug. 3 trade deadline and has heard Ryan Jeffers is on the radar, but he is not dwelling on rumors. The New York catcher is focusing on defense and pitching staff support amid a rough season at the plate.
Key Takeaways
- Wells confirmed awareness of catching upgrade talk, including Ryan Jeffers, ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline.
- He described trade chatter as “out of sight, out of mind” and said he does not seek coverage about himself.
- Wells entered Saturday hitting .163 with a .524 OPS in 70 games, among the worst marks in MLB.
- His pitch framing ranks among the majors’ best, and manager Aaron Boone continues to publicly back him.
- Other names in speculation include Colorado’s Hunter Goodman and Cincinnati’s Tyler Stephenson.
What did Austin Wells say about Yankees catching rumors?
Speaking before Saturday’s Yankees-Phillies game in Philadelphia, Wells told NJ.com he knows the club is shopping for catching help. He has heard Jeffers’ name connected to New York, but insisted he is not tracking the rumor mill.
“Out of sight, out of mind,” Wells said. “All I know is what’s on TV. I don’t avoid it if I walk past a TV and hear something, but it’s not something I look for. It does no one any good.”
He also told the New York Post he cannot control deadline moves and can only play to win. Fans following nightly broadcasts can find more coverage via our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Why are the Yankees linked to Ryan Jeffers?
According to NJ.com, Jeffers is a strong right-handed bat headed toward free agency. If acquired, he would likely form a platoon with Wells, who bats left-handed, with Wells mostly facing right-handed starters.
Jeffers would also represent an offensive step up from Ali Sánchez, the defensive-minded journeyman who became New York’s No. 2 catcher after J.C. Escarra was moved aside in June. Speculation has also touched Rockies All-Star Hunter Goodman and Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson.
Baseball Savant framing ratings cited by NJ.com still favor Wells: a plus-5 mark tied for fourth among 61 ranked catchers, ahead of Jeffers (plus-1), Goodman (minus-2) and Stephenson (minus-10).
How bad has Austin Wells’ offense been in 2026?
Wells openly called his season at the plate terrible. Through Friday he was batting .163 with six home runs, 13 RBI and a .524 OPS in 70 games. The Post noted he entered Saturday with the majors’ worst batting average among hitters with at least 220 plate appearances.
There has been a modest recent bump. Over his previous eight games entering Saturday, Wells went 6-for-21 with two homers and four walks, per the Post. He said he is “seeing the ball better” after returning from cervical headaches that put him on the injured list earlier, and credited a hockey-style mask used since his return.
Is Aaron Boone still standing behind Austin Wells?
Boone has defended Wells’ recent swing and stressed the catcher’s maturity in separating defense from offense. “Obviously, we expect a lot more of him offensively, but he knows he can hit,” Boone said, praising Wells’ work limiting runs and helping the pitching staff.
Wells echoed that priority. “I work to be able to service the pitching staff,” he said. “That will always come first.” With a little more than a week until the deadline, Wells added he will not worry about outcomes outside his control.