exclusive details New York Yankees Yankees have no intention to play Ben Rice at catcher despite potential logjam By Joel Sherman Published Aug. 2, 2026, 10:08 p.m. ET The Yankees have no intention of having Ben Rice play catcher, The Post's Joel Sherman reported. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The addition of Luis García Jr. could — if the Yankees ever reach full positional health — create a logjam at particularly first base and DH. Nevertheless, a top team official told The Post that there are no intentions to have Ben Rice begin catching as a way to add more bats into the lineup.
If García, Rice, Paul Goldschmidt and Giancarlo Stanton were all healthy simultaneously, then only two could play between first base and DH. And that does not include Aaron Judge, who if he returns from his fractured rib as the Yankees say he will, might have to mix in some DH as well.
Rice caught in 36 games last year and kept up his work behind the plate during spring training. But at this late date, the Yankees have no plans to ask him to begin catching again and put his body at risk, when he has become such a vital offensive piece.
The Yankees acquired Luis García Jr. from the Nationals. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect At the moment, the most likely configuration is that Rice plays daily either at first base or DH. García would play first or DH against righties vs. whom he has a .918 OPS and Goldschmidt against lefties vs. whom he has a .988 OPS.
