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.

RUMOR: YANKEES HAVE CHECKED IN ON YET ANOTHER CATCHER

The Yankees just made a trade with the Twins that brought Ben Rortvedt to the Bronx and kicked Gary Sanchez to the curb. Rortvedt was the bet defensive catcher in the Twins system and after Sanchez that's a huge plus. So....why are the Yankees still interested in other catchers?

It's a fair question. I'm not surprised by it but Twitter has been buzzing about it. Even if you overlook that Rortvedt has an oblique injury that Aaron Boone confirms will not be healed by opening day there are other reasons why the Yankees are making calls.

I love that Rortvedt is strong defensively, the Yankees need more of that behind the plate and I hope he develops more and turns into the strong catcher the Yankees believe he will be. He's got a lot of promise, but Rortvedt and Kyle Higashioka are the only catchers on the 40 man roster. After that the Yankees have Rob Brantly and he's not a viable option. The Yankees need depth.

It's also hard to overlook that Rortvedt is only 23 years old, has played in 39 games and has a .169BA. A tandem of Higashioka and Rortvedt is not a safe bet for an entire season. The Yankees need more depth and proven, reliable catcher. The Yankees aren't willing to trade good defense for lackluster offense and they shouldn't. We already know how challenged our offense is, so the Yankees need a catcher who can give some offense.

So that's why the Yankees have checked on Willson Contreras availability with the Cubs, read more HERE. If I were the Cubs, I would wait for an overwhelming offer because when it comes to Contreras, they are in the drivers seat. The Cubs may be in rebuild mode, but their catcher is probably the best piece they have left and he's a pretty damn good catcher. He's a free agent at the end of 2022 and he has been rumored to be on the trading block all winter.

I like the idea of Contreras in pinstripes, it definitely makes us stronger but even if he is available, I don't think the Cubs move him right away. If I were the Cubs I would sit back and wait until summer. If they are far out of the postseason picture then it makes sense to sell to the highest bidder. 

I don't think Contreras will be as affordable as some people think. Yes, he's about to be a free agent BUT he's also a good high in demand catcher and there just isn't a lot of supply out there. I wonder what the Yankees would be willing to give up to get him....

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj

THE RIDICULOUS YANKEE CATCHER SAGA CONTINUES

Source: The Athletic

I am just sick of it. Sick of Gary Sanchez. Sick of mediocre. Sick of the Yankees investing in a catcher that simply will not get better; at least not here in the Bronx. So as the saga of Yankee catching continues the Yankees made another bonehead move, that makes me think that they are just okay with keeping things the way they are—having an exposed weakness, Achilles Heel, behind the dish.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees signed 32-year-old veteran catcher Rob Brantly to a minor league deal. Brantly will likely start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre come this spring. He offers a lefty bat which could provide some diversity to a prominently righty lineup. 

Source: MLB.com

"Brantly has played in nine different organizations in the minors. He’s also played in parts of seven seasons in the majors, hitting .224 over 134 games. He played six games in the bigs with the Yankees last year," reported NJ.com. 

Are the Yankees serious? I realize there are not a lot of catchers in this year's free agency class or up for grabs if you will but I have written about a potential Yankees-Cubs trade, enabling Wilson Contreras to come to the Bronx in 2022. But on Tuesday, the Cubs tendered Contreras, which could keep him from the Yankees. Too little too late seems to be the mantra for the Yankees this off season. 

Source: Miami-Herald

According to The Athletic on Friday, "They don’t have another starting option right now, they likely feel there is value for him on the market (he seems like a great change-of-scenery candidate), and there’s a lot of uncertainty about player movement post-lockout in general."

That is a good explanation but not one I was hoping for. But what value does Brantly bring to act as a transition for the Yankees as more catching becomes available? 

"While Brantly swings a light bat, the Yankees like that he’s a solid pitch framer and overall defender. He’s also considered good in the clubhouse. He hit .289 with nine homers and 43 RBI in 68 games at Triple-A last year for the Yankees. The Yankees carried Brantly on the taxi squad for their AL Wild-Card loss to the Red Sox," reported NJ.com.

The Yankee saga behind the plate continues. One glimmer of hope is that they are at least prioritizing defense in considering Brantly. I guess I just wish they would go after someone great instead of good, if I could call Brantly that. Everyone deserves a chance I suppose, but Sanchez has had more live than a cat. Time to phase him out and maybe the Brantly move accelerates that journey.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof