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If Gary Sanchez gets dumped by the Yankees and rediscovers his 2016-17 mojo elsewhere next season, the team that discovered and developed it must conduct an internal audit to find out why and how this prodigious talent has strayed into the Bronx.
But what if the Yankees keep their human click bait behind the plateau and Sanchez doesn’t bounce back? Baseball’s most legendary franchise might just vaporize one day. Cease to exist.
OK, it’s clear that the stress of 2020 is reaching me and I’m exaggerating. Still, as the Yankees go through this confusing Hot Stove season on purpose, one truth should guide them: They can’t bring back Sanchez, their double All Star and former King Baby Bomber. They must move forward without him.
A source confirmed an MLB Network report Jon Heyman that the Yankees reached out to free agent receiver Yadier Molina to express their interest in the iconic Cardinal, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Yankees also hit the base with the compatriot of Molina for free. – Receiving agents JT Realmuto and James McCann. This is the time of year. While the sure bet calls Molina to return to St. Louis, don’t you smile thinking he’s doing his thing for the Yankees or the Mets (who also contacted him)? At 38, after 17 years in the big leagues, Molina still serves as the reassuring presence you want in your receiver.
Sanchez mostly bothers rather than reassures, and we know it’s not just us because we’ve seen the Yankees start the most reliable Kyle Higashioka on Sanchez in four of the five games in the American League series against the Rays. The team can counter the fact that the guys bench during an October Crisis should not be a binding decision, that the entire 2020 season, completely reduced, should be minimized in the assessment and projection of the future value of d ‘a player. I agree with some players. Not for a player who had a serious downtrend before the new coronavirus turned our world upside down.
In 2019, Sanchez finished with 2 negative points saved defensively according to Sports Info Solutions, a worrying drop from the 4 points recorded in 2018. In 2020, he fell to 4 negative points recorded despite a time less than half the number of catcher’s sleeves. he did it in 2019, not quite a summary for new capture instructor Tanner Swanson. As far as his offense goes, would you believe Sanchez led all of the Yankees’ skilled hitters with an average exit speed of 147.8 miles per hour? Alas, you only follow the bike out when you hit the baseball, so the data point isn’t talking about another category Sanchez paced his team in: strikeouts (64 of 156 batting). Yeesh.
It might surprise you that, from 2016 to last season, Sanchez’s 10.7 wins over substitution rank fifth among all players who have spent at least 75% of their time on the catcher, according to Baseball-Reference. .com. More than half of that comes from 2016-17, however, and remember that ’17, his best season (3.9 WAR), put Joe Girardi on a memorable bench in frustration. Sanchez never provided a smooth ride. He is the anti-DJ LeMahieu.
LeMahieu’s free agency and uncertain pricing is part of the reason why the Yankees, who have taken a financial beating because of COVID, are sailing slowly during the offseason. Nevertheless, a deadline awaits: the Yankees must offer a contract to Sanchez before December 2. In this climate of tight team budgets, awarding a contract to Sanchez will likely tie him to the 2021 Yankees.
Therefore, a trade for Sanchez must take place before that date or, barring that, non-bidding, which would make him a free agent. Pair Higashioka with Molina, Realmuto, McCann, or more likely a commercial target or other non-tender, using the same refereeing skills that brought Chad Green, Gio Urshela, Luke Voit, and others on board.
Two officials from other clubs told the Post on Thursday that the Yankees are not pushing a Sanchez trade. Its good; finding a taker will be a long shot anyway. However, the biggest long-term plan of all is like putting Sanchez back in a Yankees uniform.
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