The New York Yankees have struggled to find a reliable catcher this season. Austin Wells has earned a bulk of the time with 45 starts, while J.C. Escarra has 22 starts. Neither has been impressive, though Wells has been the more productive option.
This season, the 26-year-old has accumulated 145 at-bats, 15 runs scored, 24 hits, four home runs, seven RBIs, 23 walks and a -0.2 WAR. He is also slashing .166/.278/.255 with a .533 OPS.
With World Series aspirations, New York is expected to seek a replacement before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. The Athletic's Jim Bowden writes that Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz is one of several realistic options for the Yankees.
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"I think more realistic options include Ryan Jeffers of the Twins (once he gets healthy), Agustín Ramírez of the Marlins, Joey Bart of the Pirates, Carson Kelly of the Cubs, Gabriel Moreno of the Diamondbacks and Keibert Ruiz of the Nationals," Bowden wrote.
Ruiz is putting together one of his best seasons since making his debut in 2020. The 27-year-old has appeared in 46 games, accumulating 146 at-bats, 21 runs scored, 41 hits, six home runs, 29 RBIs, four walks and a one WAR. He is also slashing .281/.301/.500 for a .801 OPS.
The Valencia, Venezuela native also has plenty of time with team control. After signing an eight-year, $50 million extension with the Nationals, he is under contract through the 2030 season. However, he also has a $12 million club option in 2031 and a $14 million club option in 2032.
With Wells and Escarra (.488 OPS) both struggling several months into the season, the Yankees appear ready to make a move. If New York addresses its catchers, Ruiz's performance and contract situation make him an intriguing option.
