All three catchers on the New York Yankees' roster hit from the left side of the batter's box.
That includes J.C. Escarra, who is expected to be the backup catcher if Ben Rice is named the starting first baseman. Joseph Randazzo of Sports Illustrated believes Escarra's trade value warrants a move to bolster the bullpen.
"Don't expect Tarik Skubal or a shutdown closer, but it wouldn't be so wild to see the Yankees trade him for a middle reliever, who can come in during the fifth and sixth innings," Randazzo wrote Thursday. "David Bednar was solid, but the bridge to him is rocky at the moment."
Escarra hit.202/.296/.333 with two home runs in 40 games in his rookie year, but his defense behind the plate is what the Yankees valued most. Another club could benefit from utilizing his versatility at first base, too.
Opposing teams 'love' Escarra
Last July, the New York Post's Joel Sherman wrote that Major League evaluators see untapped potential in Escarra.
"A lot of teams LOVE Escarra," Sherman wrote, mentioning that one scout raved about the 30-year-old at the trade deadline. If the Yankees were to trade the left-handed hitter, they would need to find a replacement.
The Yankees have signed three right-handed-hitting catchers to minor league contracts this offseason: Ali Sanchez, Payton Henry, and Miguel Palma. Sanchez and Henry both have Major League experience.
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