YANKS GOT A CATCHER, BECAUSE THEY NEED SOME

The New York Yankees have made another “big” roster move, and by big, I mean the kind of move you make when you’ve burned through your own supply of catchers like a pyromaniac in a fireworks store. We’re now at the point where Ben Rice is catching—because the actual catcher, Austin Wells, stinks worse than the leftover garlic fries under Section 203.

So what’s the plan? Oh, the master minds in the Yankees’ front office—those same geniuses who’ve been sleepwalking through roster construction for years—have decided to dig into the “Hey, remember him?” bin and bring back Rob Brantly on a minor league deal.

Yes, Rob Brantly. The man’s career highlight with the Yankees was mostly just existing in Triple-A and occasionally showing up in the dugout so the TV broadcast could cut to him when the starter got hurt. He’s headed to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where, honestly, he’ll probably be more valuable to their playoff push than Brian Cashman has been to the Yankees’ playoff hopes in years.

Brantly’s résumé is basically a tour of baseball’s most scenic minor league outposts. One game with the Phillies in 2019, one with the Giants in 2020, then the Yankees scooped him up that August. Over three seasons in pinstripes, he appeared in seven big-league games and posted a .469 OPS—which is about the same OPS the Yankees’ front office posts when you judge them on common sense.

After bouncing to the Blue Jays, Rays, and Marlins—who finally released him on August 4—Brantly is back. Will he see the Bronx again? Probably not… unless our catching depth continues its death spiral, in which case, brace yourself for the most predictable “emergency” call-up ever.

But hey, credit where it’s due: Rob Brantly is still kicking. The same cannot be said for the Yankees’ front office’s ability to plan ahead.