Gary Sanchez gave Yankees fans hope when he launched a pair of homers in the season’s first two games, but he’s batting just .146/.281/.167 in 57 plate appearances since that time and is currently mired in a 2-for-28 slump. In light of those struggles, Yankees skipper Aaron Boone acknowledged last night that Kyle Higashioka will see increased playing time at the expense of some of Sanchez’s starts (link via the New York Post’s Dan Martin).
Boone declined to name Higashioka the new starter and said decisions on who’ll start behind the plate will be made on a “day-by-day” basis, but he made clear that Higashioka has “earned more playing time.” Higashioka has already drawn the start in four of Gerrit Cole’s five appearances this season, so it seems fair to assume that pairing will continue. Corey Kluber also had his best start of the season last night with Higashioka behind the dish, so perhaps that’ll set the tone moving forward. There’s no concrete definition of how playing time will be divided up, but at the very least fans ought to expect closer to even timeshare for now. Boone noted that he’s already spoken to Sanchez about Higashioka receiving increased playing time.
Of course, while Sanchez’s struggles are likely the primary driver of this shift in playing time, it also has to be emphasized that Higashioka has put himself into position for an increased role. He’s out to a strong start in 2021, hitting .320/.414/.880 with four homers and a pair of doubles through 29 trips to the plate.
The power may seem like a sudden development for the 30-year-old Higashioka, but that’s really not the case. He hit .250/.250/.521 with four homers in 48 plate appearances last year, and back in 2019 his ISO (slugging minus batting average) of .250 highlighted plenty of pop as well. Since Opening Day 2020, Higashioka is slashing .274/.312/.644 in 77 plate appearances.
Higashioka’s batted-ball profile gives some optimism that this isn’t a total small-sample fluke, too. Statcast credits him with 10 barreled balls in those 77 PAs dating back to 2019 and 13 in 134 PAs dating back to 2020. He’s being credited with a barrel in 9.7 percent of his plate appearances dating back to ’19 and 12.9 percent since the start of the 2020 season; either would rank among the game’s very best over a full season. It’s unlikely that Higashioka is going to continue to make premium contact at quite such a high level, but those results certainly merit a larger opportunity — particularly when his counterpart is struggling to this extent.
From a defensive standpoint, Higashioka is the superior of the two and is generally regarded as a plus defensive option. He’s drawn strong framing marks and positive totals in Defensive Runs Saved each season since 2018 in a limited workload, though his career 20 percent caught-stealing rate is below the league average of around 27 percent. Sanchez, to his credit, is at a hefty 32 percent in that regard, but he’s more prone to passed balls and draws inferior framing ratings to Higashioka. Catching coordinator Tanner Swanson told reporters yesterday that Higashioka’s defensive skills are “elite.”
The shuffle in playing time only further shines a spotlight on what has been a mounting issue for the Yankees for years. Sanchez’s ceiling is obviously an All-Star caliber slugger, but he’s been maddeningly inconsistent — to the point that the Yankees mulled whether to trade him or even perhaps non-tender him this past offseason. They opted to tender him a contract and eventually agreed to a one-year deal that pays Sanchez $6.35MM for the 2021 season. He’d be arbitration-eligible for a third and final time this winter, but the early shuffle behind the dish seems like a portent for greater change down the road.
If Higashioka struggles with an increased workload or goes down to injury, Sanchez may yet be given another opportunity to snap out of his current swoon and recapture his 2019 form. But if Higashioka proves capable of handling a larger role and/or Sanchez continues to struggle, the questions about Sanchez’s future will only grow louder. At the very least, taking a closer look at Higashioka now gives the Yankees more information on how to address the catcher position moving forward. Higashioka is controlled through 2024 via arbitration. Sanchez is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2022 season.
Finally!!
Let’s get Higgy!
Good for any player who works his butt off. As for Sanchez, boy has his stock fallen. Let’s see Cashman get five team controlled players including the great Franchy Cordero like Bloom did for Benny.
Seriously, Sanchez is another example of keeping a player too long. In his case, I understand it more than with Benny because of that power and golden arm. He either is just too lazy to work his craft or despite his arm strength was never a real catcher and Yankee scouts and coaches have to then share in the blame.
Sanchez in the minors had the reputation of being a lazy player. Don’t know if Higgy is the answer, but seems clear Sanchez is not.
Sanchez is just the latest version of Kevin Maas, too lazy to make adjustments after the league made adjustments to him.
Maybe Sanchez and Jesus Montero can form a catching tandem with the Diablos Rojos del México.
Big difference in my book between Mass and Sanchez. The former came out if basically nowhere and hard As I recall an amazing September but it was downhill thereafter. Sanchez was a Big time stud with high expectations who had a great 1.5 initial seasons who Hit by Bench comparisons were at least at first made by me duevto his power and arm strength.
I recall maas time. Scouting was still pen and paper. The next year they figured out how-to pitch to him.
Thanks Lee. I had never heard of Maas until that great September and like you said, they learned how to pitch to him.
“And if you keep this up, we’re taking away your Ferrari!” -Hal
Yes FINALLY the Yankee front office learned that the Catcher is the most important position player on the team, even if he doesn’t hit. The issue is how he works with the pitching staff, calls a game, and blocks balls in the dirt. Hitting, framing and throwing out base stealers is so unimportant in the overall picture that it’s nonsensical and doesn’t mean much as far as winning baseball games on the field goes. Besides, anyone that’s been watching baseball for 3 months knows that bases are stolen on the pitcher.
Higashioka is a good ML catcher. He should have been getting at least half the playing time the past 3-4 years. May not hold up as a starter, but can share playing time if they can find another competent receiver. Might not be easy though – teams that have good 2nd catchers aren’t giving them up. Appears that Cashman and his FO are very probably the last to the party.
Might be some hope for they Yankees yet. Next they need a real ML SS.
Perfectly said!
A catcher’s offense is important too, though. It’s much preferable that anyone who gets 4 or so PAs a game to be able to hit at least decently. This isn’t like the case with pitchers who only get usually 1 or 2 PAs a game or don’t even get to bat at all.
Gary Sanchez still doesn’t understand why.
Neither do most Yankee fans – they think it’s cause he isn’t hitting.
Although I’m not a Yankees fan, I kinda hoped he would bounce back. I’ve seen a bunch of Yankee games on TV this year & I’m sorry to say Sanchez’s catching skills leave a lot to be desired. Hate to see a young guy like this crash & burn.
It is. If he had continued to hit the long ball, the Yanks would continue to put up with the bad D.
This guys career went downhill so fast ever since he sucker punched Cabrera.
So has Cabrera’s.
Cabrera is still earing his dough, Sanchez will be cut this year. Besides, Cabrera is old as well.
Sanchez showed his true character that day, for sure.
I’m by no means a Gary Sanchez fan, but I really don’t feel sorry to Miguel Cabrera for being on the receiving end of that altercation. Cabrera very ridiculously started that fight by laying hands on Austin Romine, Who was catching that day
At this point in their careers might as well be traded for each other..
He’ll be traded soon to open up more payroll flexibility.
Do you think another team is going to take him and the money he’s owed this year? Maybe they can find someone who still believes in his potential, but he seems to be a no bat DH
If they attach a prospect they might be able to move most of the money. I’m still shocked Cashman was able to move almost all of the Ottavino contract so this should be doable.
And now Ottavino is pitching well for the Sox. Great trade.
Yes but trading Otto allowed them to sign O’Day, Wilson, and Gardy. I’ll take 3 for 1.
Fisk.. wait until it matters most that Ottovino doesn’t blow it, then get back to me.
I think he would be great on the Rockies. He can’t possibly be worse than Elias Diaz. Sanchez and a prospect or cash for Diaz would be great. The Yanks would get a good defensive back up and the Rockies would get a younger option with upside that might fit well at Coors.
Love to hear how trading Sanchez gives the Yankees “payroll flexibility”.
Simple, they have already stated they want to reset the tax this year and they are already up against the threshold. Trading this contract frees up coin for the inevitable starter they will need at the deadline.
Why would this Yankees team be a buyer at the deadline?
Is this a serious question?
There tied for last place in the AL East.
Then let me reword it.
How does this Yankees roster string together enough wins to realistically be contending by the deadline?
It’s a bad team that plays bad defense, strikes out too much and only has one decent starting pitcher (although at least he is one of the best). They could win every single one of Cole’s starts and still be a below .500 team.
I don’t think Cashman will be waiting that long to retool. I agree this team is flawed at the moment.
Absolutely right. He’s only earning $6.3 million by the trade deadline it will be less than $3 million. It’ll help, but it won’t bring much in.
Good luck with that. Who will trade for a $6M catcher that can’t hit and can’t catch?
Very few believed Cashman would have been able to unload Ottavino and yet he managed to do it. I agree Sanchez is garbage and I fully believe they should have non tendered him in December. But stranger trades have happened.
If you attach a prospect—very few guys on a 1 year deal are untradeable.
Ottavino had more recent success than Sanchez and some underlying metrics that indicated he wasn’t as bad as his more common numbers made him seem. And he has no known character issues.
Sanchez has sucked for years now and is an absolute idiot.
The Yanks would have to attach one heck of a prospect to unload him.
Yanks would at least need to pay most of his salary to get something useful on the mlb roster like a bu C or back end bullpen guy. Not like they would be getting an impact player or top prospect back. No one thought Tauchman was worth anything but they did fine on that trade.
I don’t think they will want anything in a trade other than the payroll relief. I agree he’s not worth anything of value. Hopefully Cashman’s finally realized that.
He’s owed about 5.5 million bucks left on his deal. They don’t have to give them one heck of anything. A 25-30 org prospect at the most. Not any different than Ottavino.
I don’t think it would be hard at all.
The Yankees are not getting anyone to take Sanchez at this point without eating a sizable portion of what’s still owed (so there goes your ‘payroll flexibility,) attaching a decent prospect, or both. It’s not impossible to imagine a team taking a chance on Sanchez’s potential, but I find it hard to believe a team will take on the full remainder of his contract, nor do I see them giving up anything of value for him. The Yankees have no leverage in this situation whatsoever.
Time will tell but we’ve seen crazier things happen.
Cole’s mega deal, Stanton’s mega deal, Sanchez’s dead weight…tons of flexibility…
This would be ideal- Trading him get some form of asset back. Another team will be enamored by his power potential.
Maybe a change of scenery will help Sanchez
UFC?
Rugby
Buffet
I was getting ready to say that. It’s not like he’s devoid of talent
Wow they’re actually giving playing time to the guy who deserves it. Proud of Cashman and Boone.
Maybe Cashman just needs a bigger budget, in order to be successful. Never has a GM done so little, with so much. Most overrated GM in baseball.
9 people liked this comment? Yankees fans are silly…..
Cashman deserves praise for the way he retooled the roster at the trade deadline in 2016, leading to the successes of 2017. Those moves obtained quality prospects such as Torres and Frazier. However, the sum of cashman’s long career as GM is not remarkable in light of the resources he has. He inherited the team that three-peated, And meanwhile has constantly signed late stage veterans to exorbitant deals that bite the Yankees, frustrating the fans when they are ousted in the playoffs by the low-budget rays.
I can’t praise cashmAn. He’s got money and can afford to take chances and make mistakes. There are better gms out there
Again you sound ridiculous. Seems like you are putting a ton of weight into what happened last year with no perspective on the rest of whats going on. Inheriting a team that won 3 years in a row is pretty much a guaranteed recipe for down years to come. That’s how baseball works regardless of payroll. That’s how most sports work except the Patriots and the Red Wings back in the day. Unreasonable expectations are unreasonable dude. That’s real.
I don’t think you can reasonably just base it on “what happened last year.” The Yankees consistently spend a LOT of money and have two rings to show for it since 2000, none since 2009.
100% agree Cashman has done wonders for the Yankees- i would love him to be the Mets GM .
Weren’t Yankee fans and some baseball fans anointing Cashman to be the best GM in the game not so long ago?
Not a Yank fan, but they have been very patient with him. He has had his chance!
Sanchez has been overrated from the start. He is a marginal (at best) defensive catcher and two of the past 3 seasons and so far this season he hasn’t been able to break .182 batting average.. I’m surprised he’s still with the Yankees.
Yeah, he really has never been serviceable as a catcher and his offense has plummeted, becoming average. His wRC from 18-20 was 99.
Time to trade him for a mediocre relief pitcher.
Yes they won’t get much.
Problem with trading Sanchez is the Yankees have to know they likely won’t get more than a lotto ticket or two. Can’t hit, terrible defender and not enough teams needing a DH severely limits potential suitors
It’s either get a that or get nothing because if they were debating about non-tendering him this past off season I can’t Imagine they will this year
Sanchez for Sano? Change of scenery candidates whose contracts look similar. Garver/Jeffers look lost in MN. One of Voit/Stanton/Urshela will be injured often enough for Sano to get AB.
Sanchez looks and has been very lost too. The Yankees won’t get much, if anything for Sanchez. They certainly won’t get Sano.
Yanks have been in denial about Sanchez for a long time; his swoon is over 3 years offensively and he’s always been a serious defensive liability. I’m seeing the same denial with Frazier. He’s been lost at the plate all year. A LH outfielder with OBP skills is at the top of my list. Gardiner is over the hill, Tauchman was given away, and I’m tired of the HR or nothing guys we seem to collect.
Dude calm the heck down. I gotta say these Yankees fans are almost funny but it’s not funny. It’s lame calm down dude.
The problem teams like this get into, and my home team the Cardinals isn’t that different, is fans say nonsense like this. And the GM actually listens. He forgets that young players like Frazier require patience and he moves on from them. Or in Mozeliaks case he develops and drafts really good talent just to trade it away for the right to overpay old vets. Ita dumb. Young players need time to learn on the job and fans need to be patient. It’s that impatience that leads to bigger problems.
Sanchez is 28 and not a kid. He is no longer a prospect. His offensive output since 2017 is awful and he has never been a major league catcher. It’s not about patience. It’s about reality.
Yankees have several catching prospects like Austin Wells. At this point it’s probably time to move on from “El Gary”. He was kept in the lineup for his bat and he’s even worse at this point on offense.
Man.
I’m pretty sure that I am Phat Sancho’s biggest (only?) proponent on the board. As such, I thoroughly expect to get hammered in the internet sense this morning.
Gary did rank as a very good framer in ’17 & ’18. It came at the expense of his blocking. But that’s understandable as there is a well known inverse relationship between the two. (Interestingly his defensive numbers decreased when he traded framing for blocking. Which seemed like a knee jerk reaction from the brass over optics…should have left him alone.)
Anyway:
That gap is what the knee down stance that he’s incorporated with Swanson is supposed to address.
But I think this is actually more about how well Higgy is playing as opposed to how poorly Gary is. Tough to *not* give the young man a larger role.
I still have high hopes for Sanchez. I know there’s going to be lots of, “hE’z laAzY” kinda takes on this thread. Just want to point out that Gary has put in tons of extra work with Swanson & (as a 2X all star) spent his offseason playing winter ball in order to work on his swing.
So: not lazy, bro.
Have at it, fellas.
(Note: I will only be responding to my fellow Yankee fans on this thread.)
It was very interesting to read your points in support of the less-than-beloved Sanchez. But the note at the end devalued your posting quite a bit.
Gruß,
BSHH
Its an Age of Twitter like post in which people create their own insular bubbles.
Regarding the :knee jerk” and “optics”, you enjoyed seeing him constantly going to the screen because he moves too slow to catch the ball? It’s real hard to fix slow with coaching.
The point is the pitching is much improved with Higgy catching. Too much to ignore with a cold bat.
I think Higgy just needs his chance to play regularly. He’s got pop in his bat showing opposite field power. If Cole and Kluber likes Higgy, I don’t see a place for Sanchez on the team unless he learns to play first base quickly. I was all for keeping Sanchez and his potential but that has waned on me seeing his poor results on both sides of plate.
Catchers have a short shelf life.
LolYankees
I don’t understand why guys like this and other catchers with similar skill sets can’t be the backup catcher and DH. Sure maybe he’s not a starter but you wouldn’t have to roster a backup catcher that has value. I get the Yankees have Stanton but on another team I think that makes sense.
He’ll never be a DH with a .618 OPS over the past two years. In fact, very few catchers hit well enough to DH.
What’s his career OPS? You say 2 years to exaggerate your point. No need to do that.
He has hit under .200 since 2017. Get real.
Not true. He was a decent hitter in 2019. His last full season.
I repeat his cumulative BA since 2017 is under .200. Check the facts.
maybe not so black and white= Take away the catching responsibility and let him focus on hitting might do wonders for his OPS
On another team Sanchez would be given a fresh start. The power is there- I think he tries too hard at the plate. A new coaching staff might be able to correct him
I’m thinking that catching in a big market for a win now team is just too much for him. He’s still a complete guess hitter and the defense is up and down. No real maturity to his game. Place like DET might be good for him. He could still get ab’s at C, 1B and DH without blocking anyone. Maybe old man Cabrera can help him evolve his hitting approach because the NY coaches are not having much of an effect.
Think the Yanks are better off with 2 above average defensive C’s than waiting on Scary to turn it around.
Why would anyone want him as a 1B or DH?
Cuz he has to hit to be of much value. Yanks don’t have the flexibility to do that now. I don’t see a C with his power passing thru waivers. If he does, all the easier to move him. Not going to get a lot but just something functional like the Tauchman take would be fine.
He’s basically Renato Nunes who knows how to put on catchers gear at this point. Detroit just outrighted Nunez so I don’t think they’d be interested. Sanchez either needs to learn how to be an average catcher or get on base more.
Does Renato Nunez have a career OPS of 800???? I don’t think he does.
Seriously some of you Yankee fans are embarrassing yourselves today.
2016 and 2017 are far in the past. What is his OPS since 2017? Quit embarrassing yourself.
I say DET cuz I’ve always liked Jake Rogers. Good D, some power, low contact, not unlike Higgy now. Sanchez and a power arm like Abreau, maybe it happens.
all this focus on the players,the players. but what about the hitting coach, the video department and the back end people. it doesnt matter of you’re a 10 year veteran, you still can learn from coaching. the failure needs to spread to everyone. Thames did a very good job with the kids coming up, but what has changed since being promoted.
I really wonder what happened to his hitting ability. The dude mashed through his first 2 seasons. Looked like he could cosnsistently win the Silver Slugger at C for the next handful of seasons.
The Yankees last pair of can’t miss catching prospects (Montero, Sanchez) sure did miss.
So does every one else’s top catching prospect. Literally everyone. No catcher should ever go in top 10 of draft or be ranked in top 30 prospects in all of baseball.
they dont make a Mauer or Posey often.
I guess he really can’t hit anything that isn’t held down by someone…
FWIW, y’all scared the crap out of me. OD, fine, blind squirrel yada yada. But the HR on Day 2, and I was thinking he might be back. The NYY had some holes, but 30 HRs from the catcher position could cover some of those holes, Fortunately, for a confirmed Yankee-hater, it now looks like a mirage.
ps-I’d have done the same thing that Cashman did when he offered him a contract. Too much potential to simply cut loose.
Dude you sound irrational. Sanchez, while not a good defensive player, has hit for most of his career.
You must have been gone since 2017. He’s hitting under .200 since 2017.
Talk about falling off a cliff.
It’s 250 at bats over 2 years. That’s not falling off a cliff that’s a slump. And many hitters didn’t hit last year manyany hitters.
You guys are being ridiculous. He can’t play defense but Sanchez can hit.
He can hit below the Mendoza line and strike out 35% of the time. OK
Kemajic, you’ve been spot on with all of your posts. Even factoring in his power number in 2019, Sanchez’s cumulative stats for 2018, 2019, 2020, and now 2021 are abysmal. His average is under .200 and I believe his OBP is under .300 during the last 4 seasons. Not sure why so many fans refuse to see what has been painfully obvious. The league adjusted to Gary after 2017 and he never readjusted to keep up. He’s simply below average across the board.
Also, his power in 2019 was highly overrated. I don’t believe one HR came off an above average pitcher and something like 10 of those HRs came against the Orioles that year.
They could and should have signed McCannon and let Gary walk.
He’ll end up hitting 40 HR’s as a DH for an AL West team next year.
There’s some good examples of players rebounding on their offence when the pressure to perform defensively are removed.
I predict a very similar post regarding Aaron Judge within the next year.
Judge is still playing at a very high level, his problem is staying on the field.
I don’t think he’ll ever crater in to a sub .200 hitting whiff machine like Gary has.
It was an easy call.
The Yankees have a few good young talented catchers in the minors.
Hopefully Higgy and others will be the bridge to them.
Damn that’s 2 going to be Mike Piazza catchers in Jesus Montero and Gray Sanchez turn bust.
Makes Jorge Posada look better and better
Mvp, mvp, mvp, – I had to say it
Should have cut him
Yanks needed realmuto bad this past offseason and never even looked at him. Terrible evaluation and money management on yanks part.
# of catchers who can hit and catch are in free fall league wide. Giants should dangle Bart for that so called phenom international prospect yanks signed last offseason
Giants are tied for first with the LAD; why would they do that? Posey is done behind the plate.
Bc everyone is expendable and yanks are in a bind
Sanchez is getting the Greg Bird treatment by the front office. Two talented guys that thought they were bigger than the team. “Truth hurts” isn’t just a cliché.
And Frazier…..
Honestly what happened to this team. I remember being excited when they traded for Stanton and I hate Yankees. I was just excited to see him play alongside Judge and then prospect of them signing Harper or Machado down the road. They added Hicks who was playing very well for them, Voit too at some point. And I was genuinely jealous. Now they’re barely able to score runs.
It’s called a team hitting slump. Yeah these things happen.
That’s Dirty…Sanchez that is…
Some facts. Since 2017, Sanchez has 930 ABs (not a tiny sample), 185 hits for an average of .199 with 298 SOs. MLB pitchers throw fast balls right by him. The NYYs are stuck with him, but maybe they finally realize they cannot rely on him. Use both catchers and play the hot hand. Use him if he get’s a hot streak; don’t expect everyday production. Kyle is currently embarrassing him both defensively and offensively.
Sometimes the things we DON’T do…..are more meaningful then the things we DO do…..We had a chance (I think) to move Torres and Sanchez in the off season when there was so much “hope and optimism” that they would both right their wrongs…..I saw so many writings as Sanchez being the come back player of the year…….I mean TWO very young guys with raw talent…..in some kind of package (not alone)…..I would say the ‘takers’ would have been lining up….but now that ship has sailed. Cashman’s clouded inability to judge these matters…..hurts this team. and pleeeeeeeeeeeease can we get a hitting coach OTHER than Marcus Thames… where is he in trying to tame Torres from swinging from his heels every time at bat….and why can he not work with Sanchez and that raw talent and resurrect him back to life….Oh I know….maybe because he is the wrong man for the job???
The Sanchize is no longer a viable starting catcher. His time needs to be more at DH and possibly first base. Unfortunately he is blocked Stanton the albatross who clogs up the DH spot for the next decade. Voit will return and occupy first so now is the time to trade Sanchez. I’m sure Derek Jeter would not mind adding that bat. How about a 3 way deal involving Colorado? Sanchez to Miami, Miami sends a prospect to Colorado, Yanks send a few prospects over to the Rockies and get Story. Miami also sends their backup catcher to the Yanks or Yanks just trade for Jonathan Lucroy who was signed by Nats and currently in the minors.
They than release Odor, move Torres back to 2nd. Let DJ be super utility again. Story at ss. When Voit returns he’s back at first. Time for big changes other than firing Boone and bringing back Buck.
Adding Story gets them over the luxury threshold and he’s a rental. DJ has to be in the lineup nearly every game, so he’s more than than a super utility. The albatross DH is leading the team in run production. Lucroy has not been a major league catcher for years now and is no solution. And we are not long on prospects. Other than than, great ideas.
Lucroy is a viable back up snd good defensive catcher. So that’s one answer to that sarcastic response. Secondly a super utility can still play everyday if you followed DJ first season with Yanks. Lastly to get back under the cap Sanchez gives us some wiggle room, I believe 7 mill snd you would have to add a contract going the other way which I’m sure cash can figure out. Trading Hicks would be a great start. Other than your response I hope that answers all your concerns, lol.
Trading Sanchez and Hicks is probably harder than it sounds. Sanchez isn’t worth his pay and Hicks’ contract is already underwater. Who do think would take either one?
Wowza, I guess once the judge releases those documents we’ll see why Gary was so good in 2017 but @ss ever since
I’m gonna play couch GM for a moment. I’ve always been a Gary Sanchez, justified or unjustified. I’d love to see him in a Braves uniform, especially if it’s gonna be a backup role. Here’s my offer. Sanchez and cash, for Alex Jackson, Logan Brown, and Thomas Burrows or Freddy Tarnok … you’re the Yankees, you take that offer? You entertain it? That’s a health amt of “top” Braves prospects for what’s ultimately a backup catcher. May even save them some cash in the long run also.
Cashman is a smart guy. He sees that the current roster is flawed and is beginning to retool around the edges – Tauchman and Sanchez. I’m guessing the process will continue thru the trade deadline leaving the Yankees in a much better position for a playoff run.
All the Yankees need to do is get a Wild Card slot. Cole will get the nod in that game and get them to the ALDS. At that point, all the Yankees need is a couple of hot bats and anything can happen.
Cashman is part of the problem ( him and Boone). Even more then Sanchez
It is obvious Sanchez needs a change of scenery. The only question is will it be before or after this season?
Higashioka has 0.8 WAR, more than any other Yankee position player. Let me repeat that: the most valuable Yankee position player is the backup catcher!
I think the writing is on the wall that Sanchez will get traded soon. Cashman will probably be able to move most of his money owed if he attaches a prospect. If Higgy is getting results for Cole and Kluber, then I’m all for him starting with the bit of pop in his bat.
He won’t have to include a prospect. Gary still has a ton of value and he’s young. His contract pays him 7 mil I believe. They are not trying to unload him, they will deal him for a decent return and a need!
Keep telling yourself that billy, I don’t see much value in a catcher that can’t hit and can’t play the position defensively. Yes, they would love to unload him and get rid of his contract. You will be disappointed by the return if they find a taker.
El Gary is finished w Yankees either by the trade deadline or post ‘21. He’s part of a package to get needed SS and or C.
Cashman is on his last chance w/ NYY if they aren’t winning AL or WS. His strategic personnel blunders are evident and NO Rings in many years.
The Yankees are 7th in the AL in striking out. 13th in Runs scored. And 4th in Home Runs. They play a lot of feast or famine ball.
Danny Jansen would kill for a 2-28 slump!
At least Jansen can play defense. +
There are a number of issues with Sanchez. Foremost is lazy habits. Sets his target too late. I’ve always coached catchers to set it early. Pitchers are more likely to hit their target if set early. That knee down style causes more problems than it solves. Another thing is Caribbean players often don’t hit well until the weather warms. Cano never hit until May. Last, if you’re going to move a player, you don’t sell low. The Yankees have no incentive to move Sanchez while his value is lowest. It wouldn’t hurt them to wait and see.