Paul Goldschmidt's Return May Shift Ben Rice to Catcher

Ben Rice's role as the Yankees' regular first baseman is now complicated by the re-signing of Paul Goldschmidt. Manager Aaron Boone indicated that Rice, who started 26 games at catcher in 2025, may see more starts behind the plate, particularly against left-handed pitching, to allow Goldschmidt to play first. Despite the shift, Boone anticipates Rice will remain a key slugger in the lineup.