​MLB insider Jon Heyman believes the New York Yankees are positioned to pursue New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens as the trade deadline approaches. Getty Images caption notes that New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells could be in jeopardy at the deadline, highlighting the delicate balance the club faces as they aim to strengthen their roster. Over the last 20 games, the Yankees have gone 5-15, including a four-game sweep by their American League East rivals, the Boston Red Sox. The team has been dealing with significant absences, as Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge have not yet returned, with their timelines still to be determined. Meanwhile, Trent Grisham and Austin Wells recently returned from the injured list, offering a boost to a lineup that has needed it.
As the deadline nears, the Yankees are investing in offensive reinforcements to regain the top spot in the AL East, currently contested with the Tampa Bay Rays. Heyman’s reporting in the New York Post suggests that the Yankees could land Torrens, the Mets’ backup catcher, who has been described as a solid defender and a reasonable right-handed bat. Heyman noted Torrens’ contract would pay him $4.75 million through next season, and that his right-handed hitting profile would be attractive to the Yankees’ lineup.
If the trade comes to fruition, Torrens would be making a return to the Yankees for a third stint with the organization. The first link came in July 2012 when the Yankees signed him as an international free agent. He spent three seasons in their minor league system before being selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the Rule 5 draft. Torrens later re-signed with the organization in 2024 on a minor-league deal, only to be traded a few months later to their crosstown rivals, the Mets. Heyman explained that the Mets had originally acquired Torrens for $100,000 from the Yankees, a move that reflected the Bombers’ early abundance of catching depth.
Catching has been a recurring issue for the Yankees, a point underscored by Chief Financial Officer and General Manager Brian Cashman’s own admission that it has been a challenge. The Yankees’ catching corps has struggled across the board this season, with ratings and metrics highlighting a deficiency: entering Thursday, Yankees catchers ranked last in wRC+ among all 30 MLB teams (41), 29th in batting average (.173), 28th in on-base percentage (.250), and last in slugging percentage (.252), according to Yahoo Sports’ Jackson Kruse. This backdrop helps explain why the club is actively shopping for help behind the plate and why a catcher remains a priority as the deadline approaches.
The Yankees have signaled that they intend to be buyers at the deadline, and adding a catcher could be a top priority. With Wells’ recent performance and the continued questions around his development and durability, the club may weigh the potential upgrade Torrens could provide versus the long-term implications of trading within their organization’s own pipeline. Wells, for his part, had a rough run in June, slashing .061/.061/.091 with no home runs, and he had not homered since May 22 until he delivered a timely solo shot against the Rays, illustrating both the potential and the volatility of his development. The upcoming weeks will reveal how aggressively the Yankees pursue Torrens or other options and how they choose to balance immediate needs with future prospects.