New York Yankees Making Room for Gary Sanchez

Earlier in the day the New York Yankees made a trade that didn’t involve any big names, but could have a profound impact on one of the Arizona Fall League’s biggest names: Gary Sanchez. You may remember Sanchez from Saturday’s Fall Stars game after a 1-for-3 evening that included a two-run homer that landed Sanchez MVP honors. Sanchez was also credited with throwing out two potential base stealers in that game. On Wednesday, Sanchez launched his league-leading 7th home run in the first inning off of Cubs lefty Rob Zastryzny.

Wednesday’s trade sent catcher John Ryan Murphy to the Twins for switch-hitting outfielder Aaron Hicks, which could lead to another trade down the line with Carlos Beltran, Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Ackley and now Hicks all vying for playing time.

Brian McCann will resume his regular catching duties, but Sanchez provides a solid backup option, potentially on both sides of the ball. In six minor league seasons the 22-year-old catcher has thrown out a combined 35% of potential base stealers, including 9 of 27 (33%) in Triple-A last season with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Sanchez received a brief taste in the Majors in October, totaling two at-bats in two games, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout. With the team’s recent move, Sanchez appears to be a lock to make the squad out of spring training and should receive about 30 starts behind the plate if McCann’s healthy track record keeps up.

Just a couple of days ago Bryan Hoch of MLB Pipeline addressed the topic of whether Sanchez would find himself in the big leagues out of spring training in his inbox article. Hoch stated that Sanchez is currently third on the depth chart and the Yankees prefer their top prospects to play every day in the Minors opposed to riding the pine in the Majors.

Now that he’s bumped up to number two on the depth chart, one of those factors will have to give. Either he rides the pine behind McCann, or Sanchez, who has only 35 games at the Triple-A level, will find himself behind a player not yet on the Yankee roster.

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Pipeline also notes that the defense shown from Sanchez in 2014 is worrisome, comparing him to former Yankee farmhand Jesus Montero. In 2015 Sanchez cut his error total form 17 (highest total in the League) in 2014 to 8. If Sanchez can manage his own behind the dish, his bat speed and power combo at the plate could put him in the All-Star conversation (once he’s a starter of course) in the American League with Salvador Perez being his main competition for the starting gig.