Are the New York Yankees going to pull off a high-profile move after all? Following an offseason that saw them miss out on the likes of Freddie Freeman and Carlos Correa, New York is reportedly interested in Chicago Cubs All-Star catcher Wilson Contreras. The Yankees traded Gary Sanchez earlier in the offseason and don’t feature any eye-popping options at the position. Adding a player like Contreras would be a major upgrade for the team. 

Contreras is a two-time All-Star catcher who was selected to the All-Star team in 2018 and 2019. But he was still productive in 2021. He posted a respectable .237/.340/.438 slash line which stood out considering his position. He also blasted 21 home runs. Finding offensive-based catchers in today’s MLB is extremely rare which only increases Contreras’s importance to a team. 

The New York Yankees current options at catcher include Kyle Higashioka and Ben Rortvedt. Neither player offers much offensive upside, as they are both known for their defensive prowess behind the plate. New York and other teams have reportedly checked in on Contreras. 

But the Cubs understand that hitting-first catchers are a rarity and they want to receive the most in return that they can. Acquiring the catcher will be costly and the Yankees has been reluctant in terms of dealing away top prospects. However, they are in a very competitive National League East Division and adding any major upgrades will certainly be worth the cost. 

If the New York Yankees end up trading for Wilson Contreras it will likely be by Opening Day. If not, New York could still make an offer for him closer to the July trade deadline if Chicago ends up being a seller.