The Yankees might have a sleeper candidate competing for the backup catcher role this spring. While general manager Brian Cashman recently discussed the team’s catching situation in an interview with the YES Network, he didn’t mention Ben Rice as a contender.
Instead, he highlighted Alex Jackson, who was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in the deal that sent Jose Trevino to Cincinnati and brought reliever Fernando Cruz to New York. But Rice, who was originally developed as a catcher before transitioning to first base, was spotted in full catcher’s gear on Tuesday, signaling that he may be preparing to compete for a role behind the plate.