The Yankees are set to promote top catching prospect Gary Sanchez, according to Shane Hennigan, a beat writer for the club’s Triple-A affiliate (Twitter link). Sanchez earned a very brief promotion last year, but that came only at the very end of the regular season.
Sanchez, 23, reestablished himself as one of the game’s best-regarded catching prospects with a strong showing last year. Over 400 plate appearances split between Double-A and Triple-A, he compiled a .274/.330/.485 batting line with 18 home runs.
Entering the current season, he landed in 36th position on Baseball America’s top 100 list, rated 55th per MLB.com, and got the #57 ranking from ESPN.com’s Keith Law (Insider link). The youngster has done nothing to diminish that billing thus far, as he’s had an even better effort thus far in 2016. Over 115 plate appearances, all at the highest level of the minors, he’s slashing .280/.330/.542 and has launched five long balls.
It’s unclear exactly what motivated the move. While Sanchez has certainly justified a call-up, the two men ahead of him on the depth chart — Brian McCann and Austin Romine — are both sporting OPS marks of over .800. As others have pointed out, New York is due to face a pair of tough lefties in the next two days, so it could be that Sanchez will only be up for a short time. On the other hand, the Yanks have several players dealing with injuries, so a somewhat lengthier showcase could be in order if someone hits the 15-day DL.
Gogerty
You can send McCann back to Atlanta, we won’t mind.
Mark 21
You want to get rid of a top 5 catcher in the bigs for a prospect? I get that Sanchez is a top catching prospect but you dont get rid of a top 5 catcher in MLB cause you promoted a prospect .
costergaard2
You’re on ludes. McCann is the man.
Gogerty
Clearly neither of you caught the fact that I am a Braves fan.
kingfelix34
I think that he is a Braves fan wanting Mccan back
Gogerty
Good call, that cracked me up.
JFactor
Remember when they said this about Salty?
Gogerty
Yeah, he hasn’t ended up to be much more than a top backup.
steelerbravenation
If he comes up and rakes I could def see him making Romine available maybe McCann as well. My question is what do you think it would take to get Romine from the Yanks and does Romine look like he could be a starter for another team ? I have been so adamant about trying to pry Sanchez loose when maybe we can get Romine at s fraction of the cost. I just don’t know enough about him but if he is strong defensively and could produce somewhere along the lines of .280 5-10 hrs I could live with that if he can throw runners out and be strong defensively.
MB923
it won’t take much to get Romine. Matter of fact it may take next to nothing. he’s already out of options I believe (someone correct me if I’m wrong)
His career average in the minors was .273 and he only had 57 HR in over 2400 AB.
He’s not bad defensively, but he’s nothing more than a backup catcher at this point
jtt11 2
I think it will take more to get romine bc of what he provides the Yankees in terms of flexibility. Romine was sent down last season and got a lot of reps at 1b in scranton and worked real hard with the coaches in scranton on his hitting.
Let’s look at his role with the yanks – basically he is a back up catcher that can play 1b. McCann is the starting catcher and back up 1b. Tex hasn’t played a full season in a few years and will almost certainly hit the dl at some point. That means McCann gets shifted to 1b and romine is the starting catcher. When Tex is out McCann and romine can switch off 1b and catching duties. The Yankees have no one else, that isn’t a current starter with 1b experience. That is a pretty big hole to fill – even though it may not be obvious to even more experienced fans.
steelerbravenation
I would love McCann back as well the only problem is he is a LH hitter and we got a bunch of them. I would feel if we were to get McCann back we would have to move Markakis to help balance the line up out.
I am interested in hearing bout Romine snd if Yankee fans feel he could be an everyday guy,
theo2016
Atlanta has no hitters so there’s that.
Gogerty
The team is slowly coming around. But every week it is two or three different.
bronxbombers
Honestly you wouldn’t want romine he is just off to a bad start there is a reason this is his first season starting the season in the bigs at 28 I believe plus he got dfa just last year by the Yankees because he’s never been able to hit
MB923
I assume you mean off to a decent start. Not a bad start
But overall yeah, he’d be lucky to bring anything back
bronxbombers
Solid defensive backup at best
bronxbombers
If you want a prospect catcher SSanchez is your man but we’d have to be talking Teheran in the discussion
Gogerty
Man that would be a tough trade. Braves seriously need a catcher for the future. Bethancourt and the scouts that loved him left us screwed.
chieftoto
Ummmm….. I think we hold off on catchers. It’s pretty obvious we have the number 1 draft pick next year and I’m hoping we go with Shwarz. Trade Teheran to the Pirates for Meadows. They don’t need a another outfielder at all. Or maybe even for Gallo. Rangers would also be open to that.
chesteraarthur
Tehran has not been good enough to get Gallo. And the Pirates do need an ofer because McCutchen is gonna walk.
Teams don’t really draft for need in MLB and A LOT can change from now til next draft as far as potential #1 picks go.
JT19
How does that make sense? A team isn’t going to give up their top prospect (unless your Dave Stewart and the D’Backs), just because there is a logjam at their position, for a guy who is best suited for a number 2/3 rotation spot. I’m a fan of Teheran but he’s not an ace and probably has a ceiling of being a good number 2 pitcher and a floor of an average number 3 pitcher. Again, unless your Dave Stewart, no team is giving up their top prospect unless more than Teheran is coming back (despite his good start).
rocky7
First of all, why would the Yankees “give away a player for nothing” that clearly fits another desperate team like the Braves needs. This is the YANKEES guys.
It doesn’t matter that Romine is out of options, And, just because the are promoting Saanchez for the upcoming Sox series with A-Rod on the DL he might be right back in the minors for continued seasoning. He’s the future not necessarily the present.
I don’t think the Yankees are going to give Romine away for nothing. Its not a matter of “overvaluing his skills but the matter of what the Braves or any other team offers that fits team needs as to whether and where he might be traded to. At this time the Yankees are probably looking for another left side infielder (third baseman), or minor league starter as a potential fit.
steelerbravenation
3rd baseman=Ruiz
Minor league starter=Jenkins
What’s that get us ?????
JFactor
Ever since that documentary a few years back, I’ve been waiting for he and Sano to be in the big leagues!
bronxbombers
Think the Yankees are gonna try and sell high on romine while they can or they should try at least
MB923
Rumors are saying he’s coming up just to face the White Sox this weekend when they have Sale and Quintana going. He’s likely to DH, though he also may catch when Severino pitches.
JFactor
That’s so unfair to a rookie.
Hey, welcome to the big leagues, now go hit two of the best pitchers in the game
stl_cards16 2
No kidding. Most teams try to put young players in the best position to succeed. Apparently the Yankees are worried about protecting their veterans.
Hope Sanchez makes a good impression and sticks.
steelerbravenation
Teheran & Ruiz for Sanchez, Lindgren, Refsnyder & Headley. Gives the Yanks 3rd baseman of the future and a solid number 2 starter and salary relief. Gives the Braves a couple of young bats, the catching prospect they need, a veteran stop gap 3rd baseman until Austin Riley is ready. A young solid bat to work with and left handed bullpen arm.
staypuft
You’d like that, wouldn’t you?
Gogerty
Steelerbrave, love ya man and love our Braves, but that is an insane trade. You want Yanks C of the future, second baseman of the future (albeit not the same regard as the Core 4), an $11-13 M third baseman for what would be their 4th man in rotation and 3rd base prospect? Only way I see that working is Yanks desperately want Headley off the payroll, which has come up. But we would have to sprinkle in more. Teheran might be our Ace, but 3 when he isat his best the last two years in any other rotation.
chieftoto
Don’t really want a trade involving Sanchez. Why would we need a second basemen? We have Swanson and Albies. Trading a 3rd base prospect for a 3rd base prospect. Redundant.
Niekro
Refsnyder isn’t the future of any thing Braves would want nothing to do with Headley, already went through that with Johnson, Lindgren and Sanchez are the only valuable commodities, Lindgren value is on the way down too, he just cant find the strike zone consistently. Teheran and Ruiz for Sanchez and a lotto ticket in Lindgren is extremely fair.
Niekro
The Yankee’s know Refsnyder better than any one and they have been a lefty heavy team the past 2 years and yet find no room for him at the MLB level that should be a big sign he either has no position or just is a AAAA player.
rocky7
You guys are guilty of the same thing I read constantly in MLB Trade Rumors….over valuing your pospects. My god they are prospects and you already have this guy Ruiz and Teheran in the Hall of Fame.
As we say in North Jersey….fagetaboutit!
rocky7
Ref would be the best hitter in your lineup man…..don’t demean his bat…this kid seems as if he can be a steady MLB player…..the Yankees have been playing him out of position by trying to make him into a 2nd baseman. He’s a bonafide right fielder.
rocky7
You guys are guilty of the same thing I read constantly in MLB Trade Rumors….over valuing your prospects.
The Braves minor leagues is rated 29th by Baseball America. If these two guys are as good as you all make them sound, there is no way the organizations minors would be ranked that low.
My gosh they are prospects and you already have this guy Ruiz and Teheran in the Hall of Fame.
As we say in North Jersey….fagetaboutit!
Niekro
You are obviously diluting your take on Refsnyder as a fan of his, Refsnyder is not and will never be near the hitter Freeman is and Freeman is only 1 year older than Refsnyder, how much longer can Refsnyder be called a prospect at all dudes 25 and has 200+ games in AAA
steelerbravenation
First off Teheran isn’t a prospect anymore he got what 3-4 yrs under his belt 200 IP All star appearance and Ruiz is a prospect but we were talking bout aquiring a different prospect and by the way I am from Jersey and we don’t use that played out fake Soprano talk
P-TOWN !!!!!
steelerbravenation
Did you see what Shelby Miller brought back a top 10 prospect in all of baseball, a cost controlled .300 OF & a Top 50 Prodpect SP.
Refsnyder is not the 2B of the future he was ready if they thought that they woulda never got Castro. I think he is a utility guy myself.
Teheran pitches 200 innings and he has been good so far this season and I disagree he is better than all the Yankee SP other than Tanaka.
JT19
Yes, Miller did bring back that haul. But if you read about that trade anywhere, the general consensus is that Dave Stewart vastly overpaid. All the Braves fans have to stop assuming that their average guys (Teheran, Markakis, etc) are bringing in a team’s top prospects and a MLB ready player. I mean don’t get your hopes up that a guy like Teheran is bringing back prospects like Sanchez, Judge, Seager, Urias, etc. because its probably not going to happen.
steelerbravenation
Not only did I not get my hopes up by Teheran I also put in Ruiz as a 3rd baseman of the future who is raking in the minors. And also said to be willing to take on Headley’s contract and he can play 3rd for 2 and a half years until Riley is ready.
But it is crazy to believe that Teheran’s value is as low as you guys make it out to be. He is cost controlled and signed for a few years to a very team friendly contract.
To tell you the truth I would rather have McCann back but the Yankees wouldn’t get anywhere near any of our top prospects.
And also if you think my trade offers are do rediculous but I don’t see any that you think would work because if you think that with the farm system the Braves have couldn’t put something together to get Sanchez you are crazy.
bronxbombers
Honestly as a Yankee fan not that bad of a trade if the braves through in another b prospect or a pitcher prospect which I hear you have many
bronxbombers
Dam autocorrect sorry
Ken M.
Mark your calendars. FHOF called up May 13th, 2016.
mike156
Funny thing, as soon as I saw the post, I knew you’d be here. As predicable as the sun rising in the East.
TheMichigan
Note it’s Friday the 13th and it’s a full moon…
Sky14
I’m not sure where people are getting this, the full moon isn’t until next week on the 21st.
joeseadog
Let McCann DH until Arod is back and lets get a look at Sanchez
geejohnny
Here’s the plan……allow him to play backup to McCann for a few years with limited results then,trade him to Pittsburgh so that he can become a star.
SFgiantsUK
Pittsburgh Fan?
Do you guys think something is tinkering already in Cashman’s Head?
BoldyMinnesota
To keep the trend after Martin, Stewart and cervelli going McCann is going to be the next pirate catcher in a couple years
blacksmokeMark
Romine is the best catcher in the Yankees organization! The yanks went through 6 catchers and he is still there so what does that tell you.. Yes he is out of options that because they mishandled him. Sanchez will be a bust as a catcher he is to big and will only get bigger aka Sandoval or Cabrera from the Tigers.. Mcann does ok but at his price!?!? Yes, I think the yanks should move Mcann. Call up Sanchez ok he can DH and give Romine a break every fourth game..
blacksmokeMark
Romine is the best catcher in the yanks organization. Yes he is out of options but that’s the yanks fault for mishandling him.. The yanks have been through 5-6 catchers and he is still there so what does that say.. Sanchez I think will be a bust as a catcher, to big and will only get bigger as he gets older. Maybe a DH or first base in his future. I think trading Mcann would be the best option unload some of his salary and hopefully get a couple of nice players in return
blacksmokeMark
Hey
steelerbravenation
Yeah the more I think about it I hope Sanchez comes up and gives the Yankees a reason to make him stay up. This way when the offseason comes maybe the Yanks would be willing to move McCann and his salary and this way the Braves could bring him home. I think with the young pitchers we got coming up McCann’s leadership would be invaluable.
In order for that to work I think the Braves focus should be on moving Markakis or Inciarte and trying to get a RH power hitting corner OF.
What about Matt Kemp to play LF ? The better the prospect dictated by how much of the salary the Padres pick up.
If the Padres picked up half I wouldn’t mind giving up one of the arms we got coming up.
dlevin11
Yanks need to promote Sanchez for a month or so to see what they have. They need to get younger at many positions anyway.
joeflaccosunibrow
Is his middle name “Dirty”?