Feb. 16: The Chirinos deal comes with a $1MM base salary in the big leagues plus another $500K of attainable incentives, tweets MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. He’ll also be provided multiple opt-out dates in the event that he’s not added to the Major League roster.
Feb. 15: The Yankees have reached a minor league agreement with free-agent catcher Robinson Chirinos, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
The 36-year-old Chirinos has been a very good offensive catcher since he earned a regular role with the Rangers in 2014, but he hit free agency at an inopportune time this winter after a rough campaign divided between Texas and the Mets. Chirinos only put up a .162/.232/.243 line with one home run and an ISO of .081 82 plate appearances in 82 plate appearances. Those numbers paled in comparison to the .235/.331/.445 mark with 85 HRs that Chirinos managed in 1,953 PA between the Rangers and Astros in the previous six seasons.
Chirinos has never been known as a major defensive asset, but if the Yankees are confident he’ll rebound at the plate, he could push Kyle Higashioka for their backup role behind starter Gary Sanchez. Higashioka is ace Gerrit Cole’s personal catcher, though Chirinos did catch Cole in 2019 when they were members of the Astros.
ok
That’s…interesting.
Seems like they flew right past the “serious talks” phase into a full blown commited arrangement.
Kids these days.
Nice…. Anyone wonder how much of his recent offensive numbers’ contribution comes with the assistance of electronics or real-time mechanical devices (garbage cans, for example).
It’s a minor league signing, so no big deal ultimately. But, they need to get serious about their pitching and catching if they’re going to compete.
I don’t hate it !!!
Looks like Higgy has some competition. Still wished they brought back Romine and somehow unloaded Gary.
This is more like competition for Sanchez. If he can’t rebound by mid-summer, they’re going to trade him and get some payroll relief for an upgrade somewhere. I can live with a Higgy-Chirinos tandem. I’d love Romine back but I think he wants to start.
Bro.
Might wanna check out Romine’s numbers from last year. He’s not very good.
Sanchez gives you big power. Definitely more than Higgy or even Chirinos. & he has 1 career DRS which I think is a pretty good representation of who he is defensively.
He may not be the star we’d hoped he’d become. But Gary Sanchez is still a good catcher.
He played winter ball, man. & Swanson threw a lot at him last year in a shortened season. If the Yanks have a good season Gary will be a part of that.
Bet.
I don’t disagree with you. I’m rooting for Gary and also think his struggles are mental. The physical tools are all there. Still one of best exit velos in the league when he makes solid contact. However, I think that the brass is very close to running out of patience with him if he doesn’t perform. I wouldn’t Romine back as a starter. But he’s a fine backup.
Sanchez does have so much talent, but to be honest, his defense becomes a glaring weakness to the team if his bat is cold. I know you can take last year for everyone with a grain of salt ( mid-season last year was like the end of Spring Training except the games counted). But Sanchez and the health and success of the young arms coming back ( Severino, German, Garcia along with the pre-injury version of Kluber) to a full season will either make the Front Office happy, or will expose the mistake of letting Tanaka and Paxton go. ( Wilson just replaces Otttavino, in my estimation).
Sanchez will give you big power. He will also give you a great deal of strike outs, errors, and passed balls with a poor batting average.
Sanchez can provide big power, but he is not a good catcher. Let’s be real.
You’re in the wrong thread, bro.
This isn’t whining about big market clubs. Stick to that, sir, as your baseball acumen still sucks.
Anyway.
Enjoy watching Gary Sanchez smack dingers in the playoffs while your team’s crappy catcher works on his golf swing.
I will take a 2 time Gold Glove catcher over Sanchez any time. Once you take off your arrogant Yankee fan glasses, you would see it too. Sanchez got benched last year in the playoffs. He might not make it to the playoffs as a Yankee in 2021.
Bro, this is a MLB site not a Yankee site so I will comment whenever I chose to. Enjoy watching Sanchez constantly run back to the backstop while your opponents run around the bases.
Oh.
That’s right. You have to pretend that you’re happy with your team’s scrub players. So I guess it somehow makes you feel better to hate on superior players.
I’ll gladly take guy with the career OPS of .823 over some “glove first” stooge. But then, I prefer good players.
Enjoy 4th place & bragging about how good a glove your crappy team’s crappy catcher has, I guess.
;)
Bucky showing his complete lack of class and baseball knowledge. I hope that the Yankees keep Sanchez with his .140 batting average and absolutely horrid defense. I don’t want him anywhere around my team.
Some good Yankee fans wonder why many hate the Yankees. Bucky, with his juvenile comments and arrogant attitude is the reason why.
By the way Bucky, since the start of 2013, my crappy team has won more games than your beloved Sanchez and his Yankees teammates. And they did so with a team payroll that was significantly less than the Yankees. So if my team is “crappy”, where would your team be?
Awww…did the troll get trolled & it made him sad?
You show up on Yankee threads for the sole purpose of trashing our players, fans, front office, & owner. Pretty pathetic hobby. Yet you’re going to talk about “class”. That’s rich. Personally, I like to go hunting & fishing.
But you do you, I guess.
Lol…”lack of knowledge”. Yeah. Like the time I actually responded to you & handed you your rump in a baseball debate. Guess you must have a negative amount of “knowledge”. :)
You’d best savor all those “wins” against the weak teams of the AL Central, hickeyjon. Indians won’t be sniffing even 3rd place for a very long time.
Meanwhile, Vegas has the Yanks & Sanchez as the AL favorites. Hey…the best revenge *is* living well lol!
I still stand with my original comment. Yes, Sanchez can provide big power. He will also cost the Yankees many runs with his very poor defense. Yes, I would still prefer Cleveland’s Gold Glove Catcher and the incredible work that he does with our pitching staff. Roberto Perez is one of the reasons that the Indians pitching has been so successful. There is more to baseball than the almighty home run. Run prevention is also very important and provides teams with many victories.
I will also remind you that MLB Trade Rumors is a public site (not a Yankee site) and the comment section is open to all. I am quite sure that you have commented on more than just Yankee threads.
I will not engage with you in your immature, name calling way. Apparently, you are incapable of having a baseball discussion. Good luck with Sanchez. I think that you are going to need it.
Sánchez to AAA
At this point wouldn’t he need to accept an assignment? No way he does. He’d rather play in Seattle or Pittsburgh than be in AAA.
If he is playing horribly, what do you think you would get back in a trade? If he is playing well why would they Yankees trade him? Also why would the Yankees trade when his value is the lowest it could be? Can we trade stocks sometime?
He has no minor league options so he would have to pass waivers which he wont and there would be no point to loos him to another team when at worst he can just be your backup.
Robbie has joined the Dark Side… I hope he can have a revival, but it’ll be hard to see him as a Yankee…
I didn’t think he would be willing to shave off his beard
He won’t have to worry about it because he’ll be in AAA all year
Do they have to shave in AAA too?
No. But most guys in their minors do it anyway in case they get called up and not give them an excuse not to pick them. It’s a silly. outdated policy but whatever.
Stop spouting crap… Nobody does it anyway “as an excuse to not get picked”… Idiot
You do you, cupcake.
Right. The Dark Side. Because it was the Yankees who were banging on garbage cans and wearing buzzers under their jerseys with a camera hidden in center field and a line to their dugout.
Oh, wait …
@ Mr. Person…give that buzzer b.s. a rest already, would ya?! Lol smh
“Don’t tear my shirt!” (gripping his jersey at the top button after waving his finger at his teammates telling them to leave his jersey alone as he approaches home plate.
Then he runs into the clubhouse to change into his AL Championship T-shirt — the only guy on the team who does that, while his teammates are changing into their T-shirts on the field.
And when Ken Rosenthal asks why he didn’t want his jersey torn off, he gives the lame excuse: “I’m too shy. Last time I did that I got in trouble with my wife.”
I can show you several photos of him with his jersey off after games, and photos of him posing shirtless on vacation with wife, photos he posted on social media. Shy? Talk about BS. His wife didn’t mind him posting shirtless photos on social media, did she? So why would she be upset at the standard ritual of tearing off the walk-off hero’s jersey, especially after his hit won the championship?
Come on, man.
And I notice you didn’t dispute the camera, the calls to the dugout from center field, and the banging on garbage cans. Of course, you couldn’t could you?
We’re talking about Chirinos, right? He had nothing to do with those trash can teams.
Btw, the buzzer stuff is just speculation. No matter how strong you see the evidence to be; it is ultimately speculation. Altuve could’ve had a scar, an “embarrassing tattoo” (I doubt that), or most likely… a hickey. Any one of those is plausible, and they all have equal amount of merit to them. Do you know why? Because it’s all speculation.
Oh Please…while that was then, this is now…no defending little Altuve’s excuse for not disclosing his cheating method.
@Randy Watson, my man you played Joe the policeman from the what’s goin down episode of That’s My Mamma. Are the Sexual Chocolate there with you?
@Mr. Person- I actually think you got the Yankees confused with the best cheatin’ team of all- time. The Stro’s man! The Yankees didn’t cheat like the Stro’s or the RedSuks. Both of those teams need to be stripped of their Championships for all their cheatin’ ways. That’s why baseball isn’t the top sport anymore. Mr. Manfred gave em all a good old slap on the wrist. Why wouldn’t anybody cheat after a weak punishment? Smh
Buzzers have been described by multiple inside sources. Certainly no confirmation, but enough info to make a legit allegation.
The truth is, we still don’t know the half of it. As they say about cheaters, “for every one you know about, there’s two more you don’t.”
twitter.com/patmcafeeshow/status/13544957719246929…
Mr P. The Yankees just use the bullpen phone to cheat. Don’t forget Cole and his pine tar either…
@FredMcGriff for the HOF- seriously is that all you got? The bullpen phone to cheat? Can’t you come ^ with something better then that? The Yankees we’re probably just making a pitching change. Lol… And remember the Stro’s and the RedSuks won Championships while cheatin’ the Yankees didn’t win.
“Don’t forget Cole and his pine tar either…”
Um … Cole was with the Astros then.
Oops.
All of that money and they don’t have a starting catcher on that roster.
Yeah.
They seem to be “stuck” with a 28 year old 2 time All Star that reached 100 home runs as a catcher sooner than anyone else in the history of MLB behind the plate.
I’m sure they’ll muddle through somehow.
;)
Sanchez is basically rust until proven otherwise. The fact that he has that accolade at the historically weakest position doesn’t really help what you’re implying.
I don’t know what “rust until proven otherwise” means.
Bro.
That’s throughout the history of MLB. If you want to belittle that in some obscure fashion that’s entirely: Your Deal.
That’s a huge accomplishment. No matter what position, era, etc.
I’m not “implying” anything. I’m merely stating the fact that Gary Sanchez has a historically powerful bat.
Rust until proven otherwise is pretty easy to figure out. He’s useless unless he figures out how to manage that “historic” bat of his. We don’t question a player who is genuinely historic. Do you question Trout, Kershaw? No. Sanchez was feared for his bat, and I’m pretty sure few do now, if any. But your optimism is something I wish all fans had for players currently riding lows. Just don’t make it seem like he’s a legend that’s just in a minor slump.
What “weakest position” are you talking about? Not catcher, I hope, because that’s the top position in the defensive spectrum, not counting the pitcher. In 2019, the four top players in Def were all catchers and four catchers were among the top 9 in putouts. Catcher is the most complex and difficult defensive position on the field.
Gary Sanchez has a career OPS of .823.
He’s hit 115 jacks in his MLB career.
I guess I’m using the term “historic” to imply it’s something that stands as a singular event of note.
I’m not saying, “Gary Sanchez is one of the best players in MLB history.” Rather, I’m merely pointing out something pretty amazing he’s done that no one else ever in the history of the game has. Ergo: historic.
So you’re sort of missing my point by alluding to guys like Mike Trout.
He certainly has some warts. But – again – the last (real) regular season – merely a year ago! – he was a deserved All Star.
I understand that he’s a lightning rod for sports hate. I just think if he’d had a more subtle entre’ into the big leagues baseball fans would have a more realistic view of him; & could then appreciate a good yet imperfect player.
Sanchez will put up 3+ WAR. (which is valuable)
Bet.
Come on Bucky.. it was sanchez’s bat used to be his calling card and it’s been the pits lately, his glove was always in doubt. sanchez doesn’t hit again beyond May and expect him to be DFA’d.
Being protective of players is natural, but sanchez has been brutal for awhile now.
Come on John…
By “lately” you can only mean 2020. Which yeah, really tough to watch.
But, John.
Can we not call 2019 “lately”? It’s merely one year ago & last year wasn’t a regular situation.
Anyway, I’d call 2019 “lately” for the above cited reasons. In which case: OPS of .814 & 34 jacks. His card is dialing you, John.
That was definitely a great accomplishment. However, he can been gross both offensively and defensively for the last three seasons. I dony care if a catching can hit, but he MUST be good defensively and with a pitching staff. For example, I would take Mike Zunino all day as my starting catcher.
has* dont* and catcher*…yikes
Yeah, when Gary is struggling boy howdy is he tough to watch. Some of the ugliest games. Seems to happen on both sides of the ball frequently, too.
I think we all should just forget what happened in 2016. If you told me we could trade Sanchez straight up for a catcher that’ll put up an OPS ~ 800 with 25 jacks & 1 DRS I’d take it.
The thing is, that’s a pretty reasonable expectation from Gary.
Bat him in the bottom third. Expect his defense to be decent when the dust settles but still flawed. If we just dial our expectations back a little, we’d all realize Gary Sanchez is a player that will contribute. & his proven ceiling is All Star level.
“However, he can been gross both offensively and defensively for the last three seasons.”
Over the last three seasons, Sanchez ranks first among all catchers in HR, fourth in Runs and RBI, and tenth in fWAR, so how bad could he have been?
It’s crazy how people latch onto these narratives.
I think some folks get stuck on the abysmal batting averages & don’t see anything else. Man. Gary really only needs a BA above .220 to be a pretty productive offensive player.
He hammers the ball. & he gets on base.
& the defense stuff. Ridiculous. He’s not going to win any Gold Gloves but he’s certainly as good (& let’s face it: better) than Posada was. At the very least.
Like I posted above, I think 1 career DRS perfectly sums up Gary’s defensive value.
Pickin’ up all the Mets’ flotsam
Robinson Who?!?
Interesting. Guys signing minor league contracts like these are usually looking for a fairly decent shot at an MLB promotion.
& no.
Robinson Chirinos was not brought in to compete with Gary. Or even Higgy.
Yankees fans. Meet your new & sexier Eric Kratz!
Beauty is in the eye of beholder. Can Bartolo Colon catch?
Great. Yankees could end up with two catchers who have a low batting average, dissipated power, and are defensive liabilities.
I tbink this is one of those moves where Chirinos is brought to camp knowing he won’t make the team but gets to work out in case another team needs a Catcher
And…the AAA catcher.
I also really like what Cashman has been doing these past few days. Yanks have added a power LH bench bat, added to middle relief, & brought in a pretty high profile 3rd catcher.
The past few off-seasons Cash has not really invested in marginal/incremental/depth upgrades.
I know these are all small moves. But upgrades are upgrades wether they are flashy or not.
How about what Cashman has done since 2009? No rings.
Bro??? Dodgers get their first ring in 40 years in an abbreviated pandemic season and you are bagging on Cashman. Just enjoy your 1 title and relax. It could be another 40 year wait for the next one. Trevor Bauer? I am not impressed!
Just what the Yankees need another Fat, broken down catcher to go along with Sanchez
The New York Mets are currently the best baseball team in New York! That is really saying something considering all the troubles the Mets have had with free agency this offseason. Yankees are in decline!
Flags fly forever. Baseball isn’t played on paper.
I wonder what makes you say that, @Barry.
Both Vegas & Fangraphs disagree with you. I certainly do think the mets are a lot better. & I bet they still have at *least* one more viable upgrade in their plan. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least if they made a couple more adds.
But the Yanks have a truly elite lineup. No holes anywhere. Should be a top 3 offense again. The mets – though definitely improved! – aren’t at that level yet. They’ve been an 11-14 ranked offense for the last three years. Their bar was a lot lower.
Yanks have a deeper pen. I know it’s just “on paper” mid February but Cashman has – once again – assembled a bullpen that looks to run 6 deep.
Yankees still have the edge in overall organizational depth. Again, we had a higher bar. mets have cut into that though. Lots of good depth signings (2 really nice one’s yesterday). They’ve done great there. But they’ve also sold a lot of their farm in the last couple years. It’s going to take a bit to build assemble useable players there.
But staff?
Well.
Yeah. mets have a decidedly better starting rotation. That’s the strength of their club!
But Yanks do have Gerrit Cole. & they do have some pretty big names & fairly good depth.
I guess I can see why Vegas & Fangraphs have ascertained that Yankees > mets. But I guess we’ll see.
@DODGER JR
Clearly, you have no idea what Chirinos looks like. He’s 6′ 1″ 220. He isn’t fat by any measure.
It’s a minor-league contract. If he makes the club he’ll be a backup catcher, most likely the third guy in case Sanchez or Higashioka gets hurt.
Crash Davis
Robinson Honey Nut Chirinos will improve Sanchez’s exit velo……..out of town, baby!!!
Yankees really have no excuse to lose unless injuries creep up again. Right up there with Dodgers.
Yanks look to be set for the next 2 years with position players except for catcher. Sanchez is the only position that is questionable.. He need to get back on track this year to stay with the team. Many teams are using 2 catchers equally in today’s game, there are no more Yogi Berra’s or Johnny Bench’s in this position.
JT Realmuto Yasmani Grandal?
He’ll never catch f
…never catch for the Yankees. He’s a backup option in case Sanchez or Higgy gets injured in Spring Training. He’s more bat than glove, which the Yankees already have with Sanchez, which means the back up needs to be a good defender.
Have you watched any of Sanchez’ offensive at bats over the last 2 years or just making a blind statement….when you refer to Sanchez as “having bat” are you referring to his .140ish batting average which translates to 14 hits over 100 at bats which basically strands a large village on the bases while he flails at pitches he can’t but still tries to make any contact with…..he is dead pull and can’t even move runners over due to his strikeouts and lack of any possible situation hitting…….signing Cherinos definitely offers improved offense even was compared to Higgy, and certainly should Sanchez make his typical IL visit over the course of this coming season.
Check back on most contenders over the last few years and who they used as a catcher. No big stars in that position as I can see. Your thoughts.
I don’t know. You still need someone capable and consistent though. I have given up on Sanchez, definitely on the defensive side and I don’t think he can shake off the mistakes in the field anymore and not let it come with him to the plate. It really is a Hail Mary on Sanchez this year. Higgy is steady with the glove but has limited AB’s in the bigs, and Chirinos is just Sanchez light. The Yanks really need Sanchez to come up big this year.
This is fine and not a big deal like say not acquiring legit starting pitching…