Gary Sanchez agrees to minor league deal with Giants
Former New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins catcher Gary Sanchez has agreed to a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Friday. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported the salary could increase to $4 million if he makes the major league ballclub.
Rosenthal reported that Sanchez will “report initially to the team’s spring-training home in Scottsdale (Arizona),” before eventually joining one of their minor league affiliates. He can opt out of his deal if he’s not selected to the major league club by May 1.
Sanchez, who finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2016, has spent eight combined MLB seasons with the New York Yankees (seven years) and his most recent one with the Minnesota Twins (one).
Sanchez, 30, was traded to the Twins before the 2022 season with Gio Urshela in a deal for Isiah Kiner-Falefa. He slashed .205/.282/.377 (89 OPS+) with 24 doubles, 16 home runs and 61 RBIs. The 89 OPS+ was the second-lowest mark of his career, the worst being a 70 OPS+ recorded in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Over his seven-year career, he’s registered 154 career home runs with a .778 OPS (109 OPS+), in addition to 102 doubles, two triples and 401 RBIs.
Once he is ready to be acclimated, he will be another catcher for the Giants, who lack catching depth outside of second-year catcher Joey Bart, who struggled as a rookie, and veteran Roberto Perez. The knock on the 30-year-old is his defensive ability, but he still carries the potential to be a middle-of-the-order bat — especially if he’s able to get everyday at-bats with the recently-implemented DH in the NL.
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