Hunter Goodman, the 26-year-old catcher for the Colorado Rockies, has absolutely been mashing the ball this season, already hitting 31 home runs through just 98 games. That’s a huge number, especially for a guy playing behind the plate. But forget the trade rumors swirling around him, because Sam Blum from The Athletic just dropped a bombshell prediction that’s gonna sting a lot of catcher-needy teams, especially the New York Yankees.
This Catcher Is A Beast, And Everyone Knew It
Let’s be real, the Colorado Rockies are one of the more intriguing teams right now as we head toward the 2026 MLB trade deadline. They might not have one of those “Tarik Skubal or Mason Miller-level” superstar pitchers to dangle, but Hunter Goodman is way more than good enough to be the headliner of any trade package. The dude’s got 31 dingers as a catcher this season, and get this: he’s actually a better hitter outside of Coors Field! With Shea Langeliers potentially out for the season and the Minnesota Twins looking like they’ll hang onto Ryan Jeffers, Goodman was looking like the absolute best catcher available on the trade market. Seriously, who wouldn’t want a backstop raking like that? He had an All-Star nod this season, building on last year’s 31 homers and .843 OPS in 144 games. This season, he’s got those same 31 homers with an even better .888 OPS in just 98 games. His value was through the roof!
The Rockies Are Pulling A Fast One On The League
But here’s the kicker, the move that’s got teams like the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Boston Red Sox ripping their hair out: Sam Blum, a writer over at The Athletic, isn’t predicting a trade for Goodman. Nope, he’s dropping the bomb that the Rockies are going to *extend* him instead! Blum straight up said, “Colorado extends Hunter Goodman. Maybe it comes before the deadline, maybe after. But Colorado seems keen on building around their best player, not trading him amid a lost season.” Talk about a curveball!
This prediction means the Rockies, who aren’t contenders right now and have a mountain of work ahead to even sniff a postseason threat, are actually thinking long-term. While Goodman’s defense might still have a few question marks, you just can’t argue with his bat. They’re asking, “Why not build around this superstar catcher?” Goodman is only 26 and already under club control through the 2029 season. After another All-Star nod this season, keeping him long-term is going to be seriously costly. But seriously, catchers with his kind of offensive production, the kind he’s shown for two straight seasons? They’re as rare as a sunny day in October sometimes. He’s absolutely worth a long-term deal and would be one of those foundational building blocks for the Rockies if they ever want to climb back to relevance. For those catcher-hungry teams, though, this prediction is just brutal.
So what’s next? The trade deadline is still looming, and if the Rockies follow through with Blum’s prediction, it leaves teams like the Yankees scrambling for other options. Keep your eyes glued to the deadline, because if this prediction holds, it’s a massive shift for a lot of big-name contenders who thought they had a shot at a game-changing catcher.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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