The New York Yankees entered the stretch run of the 2026 season still searching for a solution behind the plate, and the window for addressing that need may stay open longer than many expected.
Hunter Goodman, the Colorado Rockies catcher who generated significant interest around the trade deadline, remains in Denver for now.
Yet Maria Aldrich of Heavy.com feels that the Yankees could pursue Goodman again this winter.
The Yankees’ catching situation has been a persistent soft spot. Austin Wells has struggled to provide consistent offense, leaving the club without the kind of middle-of-the-order production that can change a lineup’s complexion.
Goodman has delivered exactly that kind of production this season. Through 109 games he is hitting .253 with a .321 on-base percentage and a robust .543 slugging percentage, good for a career-best .864 OPS. He has already launched 34 home runs, driven in 69 runs, and added 16 doubles. Those numbers represent the kind of impact New York has lacked from the position for much of the year.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report recently listed Goodman among the players who could still be moved before next season begins, citing the Rockies’ ongoing pitching struggles.
Colorado’s staff ranks last in the majors with a 5.48 ERA, creating a clear incentive for the organization to explore deals that bring back arms. Reuter described Goodman as a passable defender with a true middle-of-the-order bat—an increasingly rare combination.
That profile makes him attractive to contenders willing to pay a premium, and the Yankees fit that description if they decide the price is right this winter.
Goodman is under club control through 2029 and remains arbitration-eligible, which only increases his value. He was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 draft and made his big-league debut in 2023. Across four seasons he owns a .250 average and an .804 OPS with 79 home runs.
The power is real, and the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium would only amplify it. Defensively he is not a Gold Glove candidate, but the offensive upside is substantial enough that many evaluators view the trade-off as worthwhile.
For the Yankees, the offseason presents a natural moment to revisit a pursuit they could not complete in July. With postseason odds remaining high and the division still within reach, Brian Cashman and the front office will be looking for ways to fortify the roster for a deep October run.
Adding a catcher who can both hit for power and provide several years of cost-controlled production would address a clear hole without requiring a massive free-agent commitment.
Aldrich noted that the Yankees should not dismiss the possibility of landing Goodman before next Opening Day. The Rockies’ pitching needs are unlikely to disappear overnight, and a motivated seller could still entertain offers that improve their staff.
From the Bronx perspective, that possibility keeps hope alive for a meaningful upgrade at a position that has quietly undermined the team’s offensive consistency all season.
Whether the Yankees ultimately pull the trigger will depend on the return Colorado demands and the other options available this winter. But Goodman’s name is unlikely to disappear from the conversation anytime soon.
