The Yankees have acquired veteran catcher Rob Brantly from the Giants in exchange for cash and assigned him to their alternate training site, per a team announcement. Brantly was designated for assignment early in the season and assigned outright to the Giants’ alternate site after clearing waivers. He’s not currently on the 40-man roster but will be added to the Yankees’ 60-man player pool.
The 31-year-old Brantly appeared in just one game with the Giants and went 0-for-3 before his DFA. He’s a well-traveled veteran that has seen action in parts of six MLB seasons, hitting at a combined .228/.292/.330 clip in 432 plate appearances. Brantly has a solid 28 percent caught-stealing rate from behind the dish but less favorable number in terms of pitch framing.
Brantly will add some catching depth to a Yankees club that has seen Gary Sanchez struggle at the plate and Chris Iannetta depart for retirement. Backup Kyle Higashioka, meanwhile, is on the injured list due to an oblique strain, which prompted the Yankees to bring up veteran Erik Kratz. New York also has catchers Josh Thole, Max McDowell and Wynston Sawyer at its alternate training site at the moment.
I guess this means no re-union with the best back-up catcher ever: Austin Romine
I guess he punched his ticket.
There is no need that Romine should return to the New York Yankees. He was blocked by Gary Sanchez. He needed to be an everyday catcher a long time ago. I’m glad for him that he is getting that chance with the Tigers.
@Francyso8- being one of the best back up catcher‘s in baseball is better then starting and losing on a last place team. I am glad to see him playing regularly though he is a good guy.
No it’s not. He’s 31. He has a good year playing full time for Detroit he could see a 2 year deal next off season for a team looking for catching help.
The 2021 catcher free agent class isn’t all the impressive outside Realmuto, and there’s always a chance he takes an extension with Philly to avoid dealing with subpar offers via free agency and owners being cheap cause of covid.
Indians could sign him to replace Perez if they decline his club option, Angels could be in on him to replace Castro, Rays could replace Zunino with him, Rockies could replace Tony Wolters, Padres could use him if Campusano isn’t ready.
Except Detroit is not a last place team anymore.
Yank4Life- Well, it’s better to play almost in a last place team where you can play regularly than being a backup player especially playing in a big market team where he was overshadowed by others who play regularly. Why do you think he is playing so well with the Tigers? It’s because he didn’t have that opportunity in New York. Also, as a regular player there is a higher chance that they will have a better salary. In other words, the Yankees misused him thinking that Sanchez was a better catcher when we know that he will be better as a permanent DH or first baseman because of his bat. The issue is that Luke Voit plays first base and so far Stanton is the DH, but he is in the injured list.
He was really good. Too bad the yanks couldn’t offer him more than the 1 year 5 million Detroit offered
@robluca21- well said
Pretty sure money wasn’t the only reason he left New York. He said he was being blocked in New York. He wanted to start and Detroit gave him the chance and he is doing well.
Terrible decision by the Yankees, Sanchez has to be the worst catcher in baseball, we know defensively he is. All he does is hit a homer once in awhile. In today’s game anyone can. Only good thing that Sanchez does is throw a cheap sucker punch.
@LABeachguy- I agree with the A part of your comments. But strongly disagree with the B part. Sanchez’s defense has definitely improved. I know he’s no JT Realmuto back there but who is? But no doubt your right he must be better offensively especially in clutch situations. Not just once in a while, like you said.
Sanchez isn’t that bad defensively. He is a decent pitch framer and is one of the best at stopping the run game. He had a few months of passed ball issues and people assumed he was a trash fielder. Most metrics grade him out as an above average defender.
A good pitch framing catcher is going to be about as useless as a good hitting pitcher in a year or two when they start with the computerized ball/strike calls. And it is coming as long as Manfred stays in charge.
1 year $4.15 M actually
nope more important to have paid gardy 10 mil despite having 6 outfielders plus wade, than a durable back-up C to a sometimes injury prone rest needed sanchez……
Gardner’s signing was also additional insurance against the guaranteed IL stints for Stanton and Judge, not to mention that Hicks would have been out for the first 4 months of the season had it started on time.
They set a limit on Romine, and moved on, and they don’t regret it (nor should they).
Recency bias. He’s not better than Girardi was.
true- but i think the point about the yanks going into the season with sanchez being backed up only by kyle was a liability considering…. Cash has a pletheroa of outfielders, pen arms, and infielders but at C its a bit weak.
It is what it is and not really a killer, the Yanks can still pound the crap teams with any catcher….
Swihart is going to be in Hall of Fame, ergo he is the best backup catcher in history
Bold move.
Haha, subtle and funny comment :)
Giants didn’t even give him a solid look, but they gave Heineman all the at bats with his .220 average and horrible defense.
He does magic tricks online
He’s not the best back up ever and we will be fine without him but he did do a lot for our team when he was with us.
@nyyrulesbutimnotbiased- of course you know I was kidding. But I still loved Romine. He still should of been brought back for another year or 2.
When I lst looked up and saw Yankee-Giant trade. I thought it was Miguel Andujar for Kevin Gausman. So I’m a happy camper right now. Not complaining at all. Welcome to the Yankees Rob Brantly. It’s nice to finally have a back-up again.
This is how championships are won.
while HoFer Blake Swihardt is there for the taking?
Considering the amount of hype Swihart got, I’m floored he was never in the Yankees farm system.
Apparently the Red Sox can hype them pretty well also.
To everyone that is not a fan of Boston or NY, the Yankees and Red Sox are pretty much the same team.
Sánchez is just awful!
As much as it pains me to say it, you’re right. They should have traded him when his value was high.
@Joe Says… -just curious who did you wanna trade him for when his value was high? Please, let me know, thnx
I don’t have anyone in particular in mind as I was expecting him to be a cornerstone player in the lineup for a long time. I do think he could have headlined a trade for an ace potential SP a couple of years ago. If I remember correctly, he could have been traded for Realmuto at one time.
As a Yankee fan, I wouldn’t go that far. He’s inconsistent. However, his ability to hit as a catcher means he has tremendous upside.
If he were a first baseman, for instance, I think they would have dumped him long ago. But if you can get a catcher to hit like he has shown, then that is a real bonus.
Darth Nihilus:
You’re missing half of the equation. It’s not just “a catcher that can hit”. There are lots of catchers that can hit, and lots of defensive catchers that can’t. The real gem is the good defensive catcher that can hit. So far Sanchez is not in that category.
@NYY42- Sanchez isn’t awful. Whose better then him catching & hitting besides JT? Gary definitely has to be in the top 3 or 4 catchers in the majors right now.
There are plenty of catchers that hit better than him. I’ll give it to Sanchez, though, his defense is better this year than I thought it would be, even if catcher is a position that advanced defensive metrics still have a hard time quantifying.
He’s not really lighting the world on fire with his .160 average right now, and we won’t truly know how good he was defensively until sabr releases their 2020 defense index. They do a better job of measuring the value of a catcher beyond throwing out runners and blocking balls.
@athleticsnchill- take it easy I never said he was Johnny Bench behind the plate. Who is? My point is Sanchez is solid and one of the best catches in the game today
If hes one of the best,i must say there arent any really good catchers in the league
I mean, yeah there really aren’t. I’d put Realmuto, Grandal, Garver, and who else, maybe d’Arnaud, as better overall catchers than Sanchez. Really thin position where you either have defensive specialists or put up an all bat, no glove kinda guy these days.
And the hot stove heats up…
@connfyoozed HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA YOU ARE SO FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just read an AP note that said the cash was $1.
No, I’m not kidding.
Where is Russell Martin? Did he retire I wanted him back
Am I the only one who keeps seeing “Rob Brantly” initially as “Bob Brenly”?
If it’s just me, then I’ll see myself out…
Maybe it’s because I have Brenly in my head as an archetypal SF catcher? I grew up in the 80s
Oh good. The Yankees finally got the pitching help they are reportedly searching for.
At the very least, it keeps the Mets from adding a much-needed backup catcher during the two teams’ double-header infested weekend series. Those who watched Ali Sanchez’s Mets debut in last night’s second game will know what I’m talking about. With Nido out, the Mets desperately need a competent backup to Ramos. That steal of home was Little League stuff. Overall, it was as bad an MLB debut as I have ever seen.
Obviously the Yankees know something we don’t, but I don’t understand how we need backup #3 to Sanchez. 4 Catchers when our bullpen is hurting for help. And 2 starters (Paxton & Happ) need to be cut from the team FOR A WHILE NOW.
Never thought I’d say this…..but as much as I love love Judge….he is a total package from clubhouse presence to hitting, fielding, throwing…but I am fearful his career will be derailed by non stop injuries…..Wonder what a guy like that could fetch on the trade market????…….He has already missed 110 game out of 320 in the last 2 years !!!!….. and sounds like he is headed for the IL once again with a calf injury…..he is only 28 yrs old….