Gary Sanchez and Austin Romine have comprised the Yankees’ top two catchers over the past couple seasons. But now that Romine is a free agent, the alignment could change in 2020. However, the Yankees have shown interest in keeping that tandem together. They’ve discussed a new contract with Romine’s agent, Bill Rose of Moye Sports Associates, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. It’s unclear whether the two sides have made progress in their talks, but if an agreement doesn’t come together, the Yankees would be comfortable turning to the out-of-options Kyle Higashioka as their backup, according to Hoch.
The soon-to-be 31-year-old Romine is part of a free-agent class of catchers that lacks clear-cut starters after Yasmani Grandal, Jason Castro, Travis d’Arnaud and Robinson Chirinos. Whether a catcher-needy team would sign Romine and give him a shot to start remains to be seen, though he has been a legitimately solid offensive backstop of late. Romine’s bat was borderline unplayable in the majors from 2011-17, but over the past two seasons, he slashed .262/.305/.471 across 505 plate appearances. Defensively, he threw out at least 26 percent of would-be base-stealers in each of those years, placing him around league average. Romine also graded well as an overall defender by Baseball Prospectus’ Fielding Runs Above Average metric in 2018, but he did experience a significant drop-off in that regard this past season.
If the Yankees do retain Romine, there’s no doubt he’ll continue playing second fiddle to Sanchez. While Sanchez has drawn heat from Yankees fans and some who cover the team – particularly for his struggles blocking pitches – general manager Brian Cashman lavished praise on the big-hitting 26-year-old at this week’s GM meetings, according to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post. Cashman acknowledged that Sanchez drew trade interest last offseason, but he doesn’t expect it to happen again this winter because teams know the Yankees aren’t going to deal him.
“I think we have a distinct advantage by having Gary Sanchez as our everyday catcher,” Cashman said. “And I know many in the industry feel the same way by their attempts last year, these extremely smart teams trying to see if they can get their hands on him. They’re not going to ask this year because everybody saw the numbers behind the numbers from last year and they know what he’s capable of. They know he’s a huge difference-maker being able to run him out there behind the plate.”
It’s hard to argue with Cashman, as Sanchez – despite whatever flaws he may have – is an effective player whose three remaining years of control and affordability (he’s projected to earn a reasonable $5.6MM in 2020) add to his appeal. Sanchez slashed .232/.316/.525 with 34 home runs in 446 PA in 2019 en route to 3.1 bWAR/2.3 fWAR. Injuries held Sanchez to 106 games, but he’ll try for a healthier 2020, and it seems like a guarantee that he’ll still be in a Yankees uniform then.
Gary ‘Stone Hands’ Sanchez should really be a 1b or a DH. It’s doubtful that any of the top arms available would want to pitch to him every 5th day.
Another factor in the Yankees missing the playoffs in 2020.
You’re stoned, lol. Never log into chat rooms when high
If they strike out on all available pitchers they dont have much to offer outside of homeruns. And clearly those dont win chips.
Sure, but they wont miss the playoffs entirely like 36 IQ Bocephus is implying
JUST LIKE THE BOSTON RED SOX IN 2019…nuff said!!
Red Sox did not have significant injuries in 2018 like the Yanks had in 2019. You also said they would tie Toronto in record. Wait until March before you come up with this crap.
Free country Reaper.
Hey Bo-were we sending you to a free country so that your wife is free of a know it all at home.
Bro your much to nice to give him a 36 IQ
You’re obviously not even a moderate baseball follower! Please check your jealousy for a team at the door! With a name like Bocephus you’re probably a Hank Williams Jr fan. Enough said for your mental stability.
Name means….wild and untamed. Check your homerism at the door guy. You self entitled Yankees fans expecting it’s just a given they’ll be in the playoffs are hilarious. Again…2019 Boston Red Sox. Please ask me why.
Mrs Bo says the name means…small and uninspiring.
You win “The Idiot of the Day” award. Sanchez improved greatly last year as a catcher.
He had 9 more errors this year compared to next year… lmao
Errors is not a good measure of defensive proficiency. He was a lot better this year overall. Still gets crossed up quite a bit and has passed balls, but he was adequate defensively this year.
“Errors is not a good measure of defensive proficiency.”
Eh. That argument works a lot better when you’re trying to argue against someone that didn’t make a lot of errors because they had no range and couldn’t get to anything besides the gimmes, but when you’re talking about a player that made a lot of errors, they still have quite a bit of meaning.
Errors may not be the favored stat for defense these days, but when you’re making them at catcher with runners on base they’re still a pretty telling stat.
And Matt Chapman had 20 errors last year. Is he a bad fielder because of it?
No Chapman is a great fielder and won a Gold Glove that year with 20 errors. Errors are subjective to the Official Scorer. I’ve seen one hoppers thru the legs called hits. lazy infielders sticking their glove out instead of moving over a step and making the play, ball goes off the glove scored a hit. Seems more errors are being made than being called. Two years ago I saw Betts gliding over to catch a fly ball in the alley at Fenway. He dropped it, just plain dropped it and it was scored a hit.
I can’t accept this award as I truly don’t deserve it. You however have won the “Moron of the Month” award! Sanchez may have improved but let’s be serious, he still isn’t a good receiver. Perhaps that can be attributed to laziness, but outside of his cannon for an arm, there isn’t much there defensively.
Plus that arm is as erratic as his glove, and footwork.
Sanchez’s problem isn’t stone hands, it’s laziness. He’s a pretty decent catcher when he wants to be.
Agree. I think the bigger problem is he doesn’t hit and constantly strikes out. Aside from hitting the homer, his swing and miss game is really tough to watch.
I think part of Sanchez’s problem is he takes his offense with him when he is behind the plate. If he is having a tough time offensively, he gets lazy behind the plate. He has maturity issues that I hope will clear up over the next couple of seasons. If he stays healthy and hits 40 homers, we’ll live with the defense, especially with that rifle of an arm he has.
He’s got a Johnny Bench type arm but anyone who actually watched the Yankees understands he kills the team behind the plate at key times. Imagine how his offense might improve if he didn’t have to stress out in the field as a catcher. It might just be his lack of picking up the spin of the ball squatting waiting for the ball. Whatever it is, Girardi’s tough love approach was correct as despite Deej’s and Southpaw’s posts, throw’s comment has merit in that pitcher’s shouldn’t have to worry about how they pitch a hitter. Getting them to swing at the in the dirt pick is simply part of the game.
*pitch.
Girardi’s tough love caused him to lose his job. Maybe you will find the same date for
Mouthing off as a Yankee hater
Agree with that. Doesn’t shift his body well at all. Will be interesting to see if new catching coach can get through to him. Sanchez has the tools to be great, just has to want it. Offensively, he has to start going to right center. He will then get back to what made him what he was originally.
Sanchez, Stanton, Andujar, and Frazier are all DHs.
Yankees trade for Tucker Barnhart? Clint Frazier for TB? I like it
Would be a good trade for both teams. Reds are after Grandal. Reds can use Casili, Farmer as backups. And a prospect Tyler Stevenson in the minors that should be ready in a couple of years.
Romine is a decent player, some teams could do worse behind the plate. I’d like to see him return to the Yanks, tho. He’s the perfect complement to Sanchez.
“…everybody saw the numbers behind the numbers…!!??”
What numbers were these?
I hope Sanchez stays with the devil Empire , it makes beating them easier!
Evil^
Dope^
Upvote^
Facts free out
Contreras on the radar?
Sounds like Cashman speak. Due to his 3 years of control they’ll work with him one more year since no clear cut FA is available. Plus it is better at keeping Romine’s signing lower as a backup. If the Yankees get a decent offer for Sanchez they should take it. He’s slow, poor defensively, terrible at calling a game, bad at framing, not consistent and lazy.
“they’ll work with him one more year since no clear cut FA is available”
Grandal says hi…
Personally, I would prefer if the Yankees re-signed Romine and shopped Sanchez for starting pitching. His superior defense would do more to mitigate the shortcomings of the current rotation and as an added bonus, free up funds for additional upgrades.
Romine’s superior defense behind the plate is a myth. He isn’t that good, and he has a noodle arm. People just automatically assume that a catcher without a bat must be good at defense.
You’re implying Romine is “a catcher without a bat?” His offense has been more than decent the last couple years, particularly as he gets more playing time thanks to Sanchez’ extended stints on the IL. For 2019, Romine slashed 281/.310/.439, with BABIP .327, 35 RBI across 73 games, and RISP .314.
His wRC+ was a league average 95 but as catchers go, he easily ranks in the top half of backstops. And Romine hits well in higher leverage situations. He ranks No.1 in clutch hitting among all catchers, and .314 BA with RISP was 6th among Yankees who had at least 50 PAs with runners in scoring position.
Tanner Swanson is the man and will make Sanchez one of the best all around catchers in the league for sure.
I thought Gary was the best hitter on the team a few years ago, hoping he has a break out year. The upside for him is being the best catcher in the game, but he looks to be under performing big time right now.
Bro your much to nice to give him a 36 IQ
I don’t see Romine as more than a 3 year/$20M deal on the open market for a desperate club getting creative. That’s if Romine is lucky and his market’s timing is perfect. Otherwise, if I was Romine my best move would be a return to the Yankees for 2-3 years at $3M AAV or so, I hate to say it, might be best off to move on and Romine go for the biggest paycheck available.
2/$10M with a third year club option would be my guess. If I was Romine, I’m taking that to play full-time elsewhere. I doubt the Yankees are going to pay him $3M to play back-up.
I don’t really understand why everyone is so quick to get Sanchez out the door. Catchers entering their prime ages that hit 30+ homeruns and earn in $5.5M salary don’t grow on trees. Yankees also have another two years of control after the 2020 season. If he only puts up the same numbers as last year, his trade value goes up. Romine has earned his way to a full-time gig and paycheck so let him walk.
Catchers that hit .230 and lead the league in errors aren’t too hard to find actually
Yes. The old batting average argument ignoring his age, salary, and upside.
Yes eastsider…the argument comes from king who’s wife (who is a true Yankee fan) calls him Queen. He’s weak on research and his hard-on for Sanchez and the Yankees is exasperated as the Mrs. makes him wear her old panties which are three sizes smaller. He comment was that “he wasn’t that bright to start—just angry that his key no longer gains him “access”.
I thought Sanchez looked like Lurch behind the plate in the ALCS.
Yankees have a DH catching. Smh
Sanchez has power no doubt but you put the bat at dh or 1b like people are saying and nobody is impressed with a .230 hitter at those positions. The only reason he’s not considered trash is because he plays catcher and wears a Yankees cap cause his only tools are glove and power the other 3 speed contact and glove have been missing his since his rookie year
If Sanchez wants to remain as a catcher, he needs to get in better shape. Catchers need to be able to move quickly behind the dish and Sanchez looks lethargic when doing so. If he commits to transforming his ‘dad body’, we will all see a completely different player in 2020. But if he wants to keep up the Baby Huey look, then they need to move him to DH or 1B as his catching will only get worse as he ages.
It’s tough because I think he has the potential to be the best catcher in the game. The problem is I don’t think he can reach his peak unless he’s traded. I think he’d do better with a fresh start somewhere that he could be the man.
He’s tough to trade but I’d move him and sign Grandal. He’s good enough to headline a package for Lindor or a number one.
Cleveland has the AL Gold Glove catcher and values defense, especially at that position. Why would the Indians want Sanchez? Sanchez could not be a part of a package for Lindor.
I agree, trade Sanchez and sign Grandal.
Yankees won’t trade Sanchez, too much love for him by management. Hired him a new coach for next year to work on defense.
I don’t see him ever as the best catcher in the game if you’re talking defense. He has a long pattern of too many defensive shortcomings. Even as he improves one or two things, it’s like he loses ground somewhere else, e.g., PB rate improved somewhat this year (still worse than average) while framing went negative. He’s touted as having a good arm but had nine throwing errors (out of 15 total errors across 90 games.).
He seems to have some head issues, gets in a rut and swings at anything outside the zone. And always looks like he’s swinging for the fences, he does not hit for contact. A chief criticism is he doesn’t give 100 percent, mainly evidenced by too many instances of not hustling, both on offense and defense. When he’s on his game, he puts up great offense. He’s best when he’s patient and maintains plate discipline. Would like to see him DH but that’s a crowded position on the Yankees and could be for years to come unless they offload some offense-but-poor-defense players. You may well be right about Sanchez doing better elsewhere, but who knows, he could have a bounceback year.
Rangers have a huge need for a solid catcher and Romine would be a perfect choice. Of course, if Grandal was willing to come to Texas I would jump at that chance to sign him.
I think with sanchez the position should be called ball chaser.
To me the Yanks are clearly to right handed. One way to resolve this would be to trade Sanchez to the Dodgers for one of their left handed bats. Perhaps Max Muncy, and or Cory Seager. Might through in Luke Voit as well. Then the Yanks can pursue Grandal and perhaps Austin Romine as the backup.
The Dodgers have a young catcher Will Smith and another top prospect catcher in Kelbert Ruiz. I don’t see the Dodgers having any interest in Sanchez.