Breaking news: despite a poor season, the Yankees still go to trade on…..
The New York Yankees, one of Major League Baseball’s most storied franchises, have made a bold move this offseason in response to their disappointing and historically bad 2024 season. The team, which has long been a symbol of winning and excellence, found itself mired in a prolonged slump, failing to make the playoffs for the first time in years. In an effort to revamp their roster and bolster a position that has been a glaring weakness, the Yankees have traded for former Tampa Bay Rays catcher Tyler Ziegler, who had a standout 2024 campaign despite his team’s overall struggles.
The 2024 season was one of the most difficult in recent memory for the New York Yankees. From the outset, the team struggled with injuries, inconsistent hitting, and underperforming pitchers. A series of key players, including Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gerrit Cole, missed significant time, leaving the team without its usual core of stars. But perhaps the most noticeable issue was the lack of stability at catcher, a position that has been in flux since the departure of legendary backstop Yankee great Gary Sánchez.
New York’s catchers in 2024, led by Kyle Higashioka and Ben Rortvedt, failed to deliver both defensively and offensively. The Yankees finished near the bottom of the league in several critical categories for the position, including batting average, on-base percentage, and home runs. Defensively, they struggled with pitch framing and had difficulty managing the staff, which contributed to a bullpen that underperformed.
Despite these issues, the Yankees front office knew that a quick fix wouldn’t be enough to turn the team around. After weeks of deliberation and analyzing the free-agent and trade markets, the team targeted Ziegler as a potential solution to their catcher woes.
Tyler Ziegler’s 2024 season with the Tampa Bay Rays was one of the few bright spots for the team, who finished just above .500 but fell short of postseason contention. While the Rays are known for their deep roster and versatile players, Ziegler’s performance behind the plate was an anomaly—outstanding for a team whose catching depth had often been a weak point.
In 2024, Ziegler posted a career-high .276 batting average with 15 home runs and 65 RBIs, making him one of the most productive offensive catchers in the American League. Beyond his offensive production, Ziegler was also highly regarded for his defensive capabilities. He ranked near the top in pitch framing metrics, threw out 30% of base stealers, and was praised for his ability to handle a pitching staff. His leadership and defensive acumen helped elevate the Rays’ pitching staff to one of the best in the AL, and his pitch calling was seen as one of the most advanced in the game.
Though the Rays were not in the playoff hunt for most of the season, Ziegler’s value did not go unnoticed. Tampa Bay, in a rare move, decided to explore trade options with Ziegler, knowing that he could fetch a strong return on the open market. The Yankees, desperate for help behind the plate, saw an opportunity to add a proven, veteran presence at a position of need.
The trade between the Yankees and Rays was finalized in early December 2024, with the Yankees sending a package of prospects to Tampa Bay in exchange for Ziegler. The key players involved in the deal were highly-touted pitching prospect Julian Reyes, who had been a standout for the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate, and utility infielder Jorge Martinez, who had shown promise but was blocked by New York’s deep roster. The deal was met with mixed reactions, as fans and analysts questioned whether the Yankees were paying too much for a player who had not yet proven himself in high-pressure playoff games.
However, Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman justified the trade by emphasizing Ziegler’s blend of offensive upside and defensive stability, which he believes will be critical in revitalizing a team that struggled to generate offense in 2024.
“We’re looking for consistency at the catcher position, and Tyler provides that,” Cashman said in a statement after the trade was completed. “His ability to both hit for power and control the game behind the plate gives us a huge boost moving forward.”
The addition of Ziegler is expected to immediately solidify New York’s catcher position, allowing the Yankees to move away from the revolving door that had plagued the team in recent seasons. With his ability to work with pitchers and manage the game, Ziegler’s presence should also help mitigate some of the struggles New York’s rotation faced last season.
While Ziegler’s offensive numbers in 2024 were impressive, the Yankees are hopeful that his consistency at the plate will provide a much-needed spark. Even though New York is known for its powerful offense, Ziegler’s ability to produce from the lower end of the batting order, combined with his solid defense, could help balance out the team’s approach and allow others to thrive. In particular, Ziegler’s arrival could free up the team to move other players into more favorable roles, particularly on the bench.
One of the most important aspects of the trade is what it signals about the Yankees’ approach to the 2025 season. Cashman and manager Aaron Boone are both on record as saying that the team’s future success will depend on greater team cohesion and improved depth, both of which Ziegler provides.
As the Yankees move forward into the 2025 season, the addition of Ziegler is seen as one part of a broader effort to rebuild and refresh the roster. While it remains to be seen how the trade will pan out in the long term, the move to acquire Ziegler shows that the Yankees are not standing idly by after a historically bad 2024 campaign. Instead, the team is making calculated moves to address its weaknesses and improve its chances of returning to the postseason.
Ultimately, only time will tell if Ziegler’s addition is the turning point the Yankees need. But with the team in need of a fresh start, trading for one of the top catchers available is a step in the right direction for the franchise as they aim to return to their winning ways.
