The Yankees are reportedly showing interest in free agent C Martin Maldonado, per MLB's Mark Feinsand.
As you can see from the picture above, you may know why that's the case. Maldonado joined the Astros toward the end of the regular season, playing 27 games before his five games in the postseason. And during those games, Gerrit Cole was on the mound for 10 of them, and saw some of his best numbers of the season.
Feinsand has Cole owning a 1.57 ERA over those starts with a .471 opponent OPS, which he says are Cole's lowest numbers among any catcher he threw to in 2019.
The Yankees have a need for a backup catcher with Austin Romine currently a free agent. While Brett Gardner has long been reported as someone the Yankees will re-sign, Romine hasn't been in that boat. However, he has been a solid backup catcher behind Gary Sanchez, and Romine had a career year at the dish last season with a .281/.310/.439 slash line with eight homers and 35 RBI over 72 games.
Romine's bat is certainly better than Maldonado in the batter's box, but this decision could come down to how comfortable the Yankees' new ace feels on the mound. If they believe those numbers Cole churned out with Maldonado catching will continue throughout a full season, then maybe Brian Cashman looks Maldonado's way instead of Romine.
For now, though, it's simply interest. But make no mistake: whatever the Yankees can do to ensure Cole produces as his dominant self, they will make happen. That could be bringing in a new backup catcher.