What I am hearing and thinking as the trade deadline nears:

Multiple teams have been inquiring about the viability of Ben Rice as a catcher, which gives a window into how the Yankees could pull off a larger trade before the deadline.

The Yankees were asked more about Rice in the offseason than at this deadline as his strong performance this year has not only raised his stature among their executives, but the return the Yankees would have to receive to even consider dealing the burgeoning lefty slugger. Additionally, Rice would be the most obvious internal choice to take over first base next year with Paul Goldschmidt heading toward free agency.

But one way to make a bigger trade and/or protect the farm system would be to use Rice in a deal rather than strictly prospects. And Rice’s value would expand if teams believed he could catch at a time when there is shortage of quality at that position around MLB.