It appears possible that catcher Gary Sanchez has played his final game with the New York Yankees.
Dan Martin, Ken Davidoff and Joel Sherman of The New York Post reported Thursday that "the Yankees will, at minimum, listen to offers on Sanchez."
This report came just hours after RADIO.COM MLB Insider Jon Heyman reported that the Yankees were among a group of five or six teams that have shown interest in Yadier Molina, a free agent for the first time his decorated career.
Sanchez, who will turn 28 next month, slashed just .147/.253/.365 in 2020, and lost at-bats to Kyle Higashioka as the season progressed. Will Higashioka be the opening day starter in 2021? Probably not, but he figures to be part of a platoon where he plays a few times a week. Whether it's Molina or someone else, the Yankees seem interested in at least exploring the possibility of an upgrade for the platoon partner of Higashioka.
It's difficult to know what type of interest there will be in Sanchez on the trade market. Two-time All-Star J.T. Realmuto is arguably the best overall free agent available this offseason. Molina is still productive at 38. James McCann will likely be a starter somewhere next season. The free-agent market may need to play itself out before any market develops for Sanchez.
Even then, it's hard to project where the league stands on Sanchez currently. He's homered 115 times in his career, but is also just a .236 career hitter. He has just a .256 career batting average on balls in play, so there's not a ton of evidence that if a new team helps him alter his approach, he'll ever hit for a high average. Maybe some team will be intrigued by his power potential, but given that he has -6 defensive runs saved over the last two years, it may be as a DH. It's possible there will be suitors for Sanchez on the trade market, but there's no reason to think the Yankees would get a sexy return if they traded him.
Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors has projected that Sanchez will earn between $5.1 and $6.4 million in arbitration in 2021. That salary alone may motivate the Yankees to trade Sanchez, because the other option - especially if they make an external addition at the position - would be to non-tender the two-time All-Star.
Related
LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow RADIO.COM Sports
Twitter | Facebook I Instagram