Scratch off Shea Langeliers’ name from potential trade solutions to the Yankees’ catching woes.
The slugging Athletics star could miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee while on the base paths, noti.group’s Jon Heyman confirmed.
Langeliers, 28, reportedly is deciding whether to undergo season-ending surgery. Even if he opts against it, it is hard to imagine the Yankees or any other World Series contender taking on that injury risk at the price of giving up top prospects, so the All-Star is likely to finish the season with the hapless Athletics.
noti.group’s Joel Sherman reported earlier this week that Langeliers was more attainable than the Rockies’ Hunter Goodman — though neither catcher was considered likely to be dealt — because he is closer to free agency and already has turned down an extension.
Heyman reported the Yankees’ understanding even before the injury was that Langeliers would not be dealt, so their best options remaining might be Ryan Jeffers (Twins) and Tyler Stephenson (Reds).
Langeliers, a former Braves top prospect, is hitting .263 with a .829 OPS, 23 home runs and 51 RBIs in 93 games. He batted clean-up for the American League All-Stars and is regarded as a top defensive catcher, throwing out 11 of 35 attempted base-stealers.
The Athletics are paying $5.25 million to Langeliers this season and maintain two more years of team control in his arbitration-eligible seasons. They are expected to move to a new home in Las Vegas in 2028 and up their spending — and Langeliers combined with first baseman Nick Kurtz offers a formidable 1-2 punch.
Jonah Heim, a former All-Star, will take over behind the plate for Langeliers, though he could be a trade candidate over the next week.
The Yankees rank No. 22 in MLB in Wins Above Replacement (-0.7) at catcher. Though he hit a big home run in Saturday’s win against the Phillies, starter Austin Wells owns a paltry .546 OPS with seven home runs and 14 RBIs in 236 plate appearances.
Journeyman Ali Sanchez is Wells’ backup, with JC Escarra relegated to Triple-A. The Yankees are reluctant to use former catcher Ben Rice behind the plate given his breakout 30-home run season at first base.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
