Austin Wells Doesn't Have Much Rope Left with the Yankees
Austin Wells Doesn't Have Much Rope Left With the Yankees
Austin Wells has struggled in a way that has raised some questions about his place on the team for the Yankees.Joseph Randazzo|
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New York YankeesAt some point, Austin Wells will be back with the Yankees. He was placed on the injured list at the start of the month with cervical headaches just before a game with the Red Sox. In his place have been J.C. Escarra and Ali Sánchez, who have both struggled as much as Wells has at the plate this year.
The question for Wells, once he's back, is how long his leash should be. If the headaches were the problem and those behind him still struggle, finding a catcher at the MLB trade deadline could be a concern the Yankees likely didn't anticipate back in spring training. For as bad as Wells has been this year, he has always been a solid defensive catcher, and heading into the season, at worst, he has been league-average with a career 100 wRC+.
This season, he is well below that mark. Wells is slashing .166/.278/.255 with a 53 wRC+. He also has four homers, and it seems unlikely he'll match his total from 2025 unless he goes on a prolonged hot streak. Last year, Wells had 21.
If there's one upside to Wells at the plate, it's that, despite living under the Mendoza line for the majority of the season with no power whatsoever, he has taken his walks. Wells has a 13.6% walk rate, which ranks in the 90th percentile in MLB, according to Baseball Savant.
Another positive is his defense. Wells is a 93rd-percentile framer with plus-4 framing runs saved and a 58th-percentile blocker. He has plus-1 block above average for the year. Baseball Savant equates that to a 74th percentile plus-3 fielding run value.
Yankees' list of potential Austin Wells replacements
Just like with Anthony Volpe, this could be Wells' last chance to be an everyday catcher for the Yankees.
While trading a catcher may not be something that the Yankees do mid-season, with starting pitching being such a strength, Wells may not even be with the team at this point next year. He could be better suited in a situation with less pressure and potentially blossom into the bat that was expected of him when he was called up from the minors back in 2023.
The question with Wells now becomes who can replace him if they decide to move on from him or give him a lesser role. Last year, they went with Ben Rice behind the plate. While Rice does not have the defensive prowess that Wells has, he has a bat that gives the Yankees some thump at the position that they just haven't had at all this year.
It's worth noting, though, that NY Daily News Sports' Gary Phillips reported on Sunday that "Rice catching isn't in the plans right now," per Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Aaron Boone, again, reiterated that Ben Rice catching isn't in the plans right now. Rice hasn't caught any bullpens or done pregame catching work since his hand injury, which is no longer an issue. #Yankees
— Gary Phillips (@GaryHPhillips) June 14, 2026
The Yankees could also look externally. Ryan Jeffers, who hasn't played since May 18 due to a left hamate bone fracture, is one option. That's the popular name being thrown around.
Another potential target has experience with the Yankees. That's Kyle Higashioka, who's a former 2008 seventh-rounder and played 314 games with the club from 2017 to 2023.
Of course, Higashioka's bat may be better at this point, and, even though it's not saying much, his .235/.313/.391 slash line with a 99 wRC+ would be a massive upgrade from what they're getting now, and it isn't all that great to begin with.
Higashioka already replaced one former highly touted catcher, Gary Sánchez. Next up could be Wells.
For the year, Yankees catchers are hitting .173/.265/.261 with a 49 wRC+. Only the Phillies and White Sox have a worse catching situation. Philadelphia catchers own a 49 wRC+, and Chicago is at 47.
If the Yankees want to win the World Series, it's time to make an upgrade at catcher before it's too late.
Published Jun 16, 2026
JOSEPH RANDAZZOJoe Randazzo is a reference librarian who lives on Long Island. When he’s not behind a desk offering assistance to his patrons, he writes about the Yankees for Yankees On SI. Follow him as @YankeeLibrarian on X and Instagram.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
