The New York Yankees will play host to the Boston Red Sox this week for a three-game Wild Card series. The Yankees boast one of the deepest teams in the American League, but not all of their pieces will make the final roster for the Wild Card series.
Brendan Kuty of The Athletic noted that backup catcher J.C Escarra could be a candidate to be left off the roster. Escarra hasn’t appeared in a Major League game since Aug. 12, and is currently the Yankees’ third-string catcher behind Austin Wells and Ben Rice.
“It wouldn’t be outrageous to think the Yankees would carry a third catcher,” Kuty said. “Escarra is a better defender than Rice, and the Yankees might trust him more late and with a lead. But his inclusion seems unlikely. Rice has been good enough, and the Yankees might not want to take his bat out of the lineup once it’s in.”
Escarra has spent his rookie year in and out of the Majors. In 40 games this season, Escarra slashed .202/.296/.333 with two home runs and 11 RBIs.
The Yankees will take the next day to evaluate their roster decisions in a pivotal Wild Card series. New York struggled against the Red Sox this season, managing a 4-9 record against their storied rival, so they’ll need to figure it out now if they wish to advance to the ALDS.