Erik Kratz had a June 1 opt-out from the Yankees, and Brian Cashman believed four teams would sign him as soon as he made himself a free agent, so the Yankees traded Kratz from their Triple-A roster to the Brewers on May 25. It is the kind of minor move that happens all the time and is easy to miss or dismiss.

Kratz defines journeyman catcher, bouncing from organization to organization, getting major league playing time annually since 2010 — but not much of it. At 38, he has helped Milwaukee, which was getting woeful production from its catchers. Serving as Manny Pina’s backup, he had a .918 OPS in his first 11 games.

He would have been a nice stopgap for the Yankees to back up Austin Romine now that Gary Sanchez has gone on the DL with a groin injury. Kyle Higashioka is the recall instead.

Not long ago the Yankees were flush with catchers and Cashman used that depth in trades, including two who are flourishing this year. The Yanks dealt Francisco Cervelli to the Pirates for Justin Wilson, whom the Yanks subsequently turned into Chad Green and Luis Cessa. Cervelli already had a career-high nine homers this year and was second among catchers in Fangraphs Wins Above Replacement among the 27 catchers with 150 or more plate appearances. But he also is now on the DL with his fourth documented concussion since 2011.

John Ryan Murphy bombed with the Twins after being swapped for Aaron Hicks. But he has revived with Arizona, also already having produced a career-high nine homers. Luis Torrens, lost in the Rule 5 draft after the 2016 season and stashed on the Padres’ 25-man roster last year, is now at High-A.

The hardest for Cashman to trade was Jesus Montero, sent to the Mariners for Michael Pineda in January 2012. Montero never fulfilled his touted prospect status. He was playing for Durango in the Mexican League this season before being released.

Earlier this month the Yankees began the regeneration process, taking catchers Anthony Seigler and Josh Breaux with their first two draft picks.

Three you may not know: 1) Giancarlo Stanton and Nolan Arenado have the most homers against lefties over the past two years at 25; Stanton in 202 at-bats, Arenado in 240. No other player has more than 17.

2) For all the talk about teams trading for closer Brad Hand, the lefty is fifth among Padres relievers in FanGraphs WAR behind Craig Stammen, Adam Cimber, Kirby Yates and Robbie Erlin.

3) Chasen Shreve has given up the last three homers by the Yankees pen. The last non-Shreve homer was by A.J. Cole on May 28. Green gave up a homer to Washington’s Juan Soto on June 18, but it was the conclusion of a suspended game from May 15, so the homer for accounting purposes goes to May 15.