THE BRONX — The Yankees want Amed Rosario to learn first base. That decision may not be about Rosario at all.
It may be about Austin Wells.
Manager Aaron Boone confirmed Friday that Rosario will work on becoming a first base option this winter and into spring training. The 30-year-old has never played the position in a major league game. He has logged time at shortstop, second base, third base, and all three outfield spots. First base is the one blank space on his defensive resume.
The reason behind this experiment matters more than the experiment itself. If Rosario can handle first base, it frees Ben Rice to spend more time behind the plate. And if Rice catches more often, Wells could find himself on the outside looking in.
Rice’s breakout season changes the equation
Rice posted a breakout 2025 campaign. He slashed .255/.337/.499 with 26 home runs in 530 plate appearances. His .836 OPS ranked second on the team behind only Aaron Judge. He split time between designated hitter, first base, and catcher, making 48 starts at DH, 46 at first, and 26 behind the plate.
His bat forced the Yankees to find ways to keep him in the lineup. His catching improved throughout the season. Boone praised his growth behind the plate during the summer months.
“He is developing a little bit of a presence back there,” Boone said of Rice’s game calling. “His game calling has been really good and really encouraging to see.”
General manager Brian Cashman echoed that sentiment after the season. When asked if Rice could be an everyday first baseman, Cashman opened the door to something bigger.
“He very well could be,” Cashman said. “I view Ben Rice as having an everyday role in the big leagues for us next year. Whether it’s at first, right now the lane is first base. I have no doubt teams will continue to come after our players, Rice included, for trade conversations.”
Cashman then added a key detail: “I have Wells as our catcher and him at first, but you never know how the winds of change blow here every winter.”
Wells’ sophomore struggles raise questions
The winds have not been kind to Austin Wells.
After finishing third in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2024, Wells struggled through a difficult sophomore season. He hit just .219 with 21 home runs and 88 hits in 2025. His walk rate plummeted from an elite 11.4 percent to a below-average 6.7 percent. His strikeout rate climbed five percentage points. His chase rate increased significantly.
The discipline that made Wells dangerous in 2024 vanished. Pitchers adjusted. Wells did not adjust back.
His defense remained elite. Wells ranked third in MLB in catcher framing runs with a plus-12 mark, trailing only Patrick Bailey and Alejandro Kirk. He profiles as average in blocking and throwing. His work managing the pitching staff drew consistent praise.
But defense alone may not be enough to hold the job.
The Rosario connection to catching
Here is where Rosario fits into the puzzle.
The Yankees re-signed Rosario to a one-year, $2.5 million deal earlier this month. They targeted him for his right-handed bat and versatility. Cashman has repeatedly said the lineup is too left-handed. Rosario batted .302 against left-handed pitching in 2025 with an .819 OPS in 122 plate appearances.
“I definitely want to give Aaron Boone some legitimate choices so he can match up when we’re facing a left-handed starter,” Cashman said at the Winter Meetings. “Obviously we’re so left-handed that it’s a vulnerability right now.”
Rosario was expected to platoon at third base with Ryan McMahon. But learning first base expands his role. It also creates a domino effect.
If Rosario can handle first base against left-handed starters, Rice can move behind the plate. If Rice catches, Wells sits. The math is simple.
Yankees have cleared the path before
The Yankees have already shown they are committed to Wells as their catcher of the future. They traded Jose Trevino in the offseason. They dealt Agustin Ramirez, Carlos Narvaez, and Rafael Flores over the past two seasons. They gutted their catching depth to clear a path for Wells.
That commitment could be tested if Wells does not improve.
Rice offers a legitimate alternative. His bat is better. His catching is good enough. He costs the league minimum and is under team control through 2030. The Yankees value those attributes.
Wells is not in immediate danger. He remains the starting catcher for now. But the safety net is gone. If his struggles continue, the Yankees have options they did not have before.
The Bellinger factor looms large
The Yankees are also pursuing Cody Bellinger in free agency. Bellinger can play first base and all three outfield spots. If the Yankees sign Bellinger, the roster gets even more crowded.
Bellinger hit .272 with 29 home runs and 98 RBIs for the Yankees in 2025. He posted a 4.9 fWAR, his best since winning NL MVP in 2019. He thrived at Yankee Stadium, slashing .302/.365/.544 with an .909 OPS in 80 home games.
Landing Bellinger would give the Yankees another bat. It would also create more pressure on Wells to produce. Every roster spot matters. Every at-bat counts. The margin for error shrinks when the lineup is deep.
Boone has other versatile players at his disposal. Oswaldo Cabrera plays everywhere except catcher and center field. DJ LeMahieu handles second base, third base, and first base. Bellinger covers the outfield and first base. Aaron Judge can shift to center field when needed.
Adding Rosario at first base gives Boone another option. It also gives him flexibility at catcher.
What it means for Wells
Wells will enter 2026 as the starting catcher. That much is clear. But his leash may be shorter than expected.
The Yankees drafted Wells twice. They invested heavily in his development. They cleared the path for him to succeed. They still believe in his potential.
But belief only goes so far. Results matter.
If Wells rediscovers his plate discipline and pairs it with his elite defense, his job is safe. If he continues to struggle at the plate, Rice is waiting. And now, with Rosario learning first base, the Yankees have the pieces to make that switch without losing much in the process.
The Rosario news looks small on the surface. A utility man learning a new position. Standard offseason stuff.
But the ripple effects could reshape the Yankees’ roster. And Austin Wells should be paying attention.
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