While he didn't officially announce it as his retirement, it seems like the 40-year-old is closing the book on his playing career. Kratz also hinted at a career in coaching -- perhaps as soon as this season -- saying, ""My next season will not be as a player, that's for sure... I am deciding not to play." Kratz hit .321/.367.393 with no homers and four RBI in 30 plate appearances for the Yankees during the 2020 campaign and is a career .209/.256/.355 hitter with 31 homers and 105 RBI in 951 plate appearances over his 11 major league seasons.

Kratz put the Yankees ahead in the fourth inning, but it didn’t last long, as the Orioles scored five runs in the fourth to move in front. The 40-year-old is 8-for-23 (.348) with two doubles and three RBI in a limited role with New York this season.

That feels like a long way of saying: the team needed a catcher and called Kratz, who was with the club on a minor league deal this spring. He'll back up starter Gary Sanchez while Kyle Higashioka recovers from an oblique strain.

The veteran didn't make his MLB debut until after his 30th birthday but has since gone on to receive big-league at-bats in 10 straight seasons. He doesn't offer much at the plate, hitting .194/.229/.312 over the last six seasons. He'll likely serve as little more than organizational depth this season.