Gary Sanchez is still in pinstripes…for now.
The New York Yankees plan to tender a contract to Sanchez, who turned 28 on Wednesday, ahead of the 8 p.m. ET deadline, according to RADIO.COM MLB Insider Jon Heyman.
This means that Sanchez and the Yankees will enter the arbitration process for his contract for the 2021 season, where he is projected to receive about $5.5 million, per projections by MLB Trade Rumors.
There was some doubt about whether or not the Yankees would non-tender Sanchez after an abysmal 2020 season in which he hit .147/.253/.365 with 10 home runs and 24 RBI in 178 plate appearances and was benched for Kyle Higashioka during the playoffs.
His struggles at the plate this past year have made him a punching bag of sorts for Yankees fans, who were already dismayed by his defensive shortcomings behind the plate.
Sanchez is just two years removed from a 34-home run season, though, and the 28-year-old’s ceiling may be a better option than any of the other catching alternatives.
There is still the possibility the Yankees could trade Sanchez later this offseason, but his value is not as high as it once was and it would leave them scrambling for another catcher.
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