What Should The New York Yankees Do With Gary Sanchez?

By Caleb Gebrewold | Nov 12, 2015

The New York Yankees entered the offseason with a problem that most teams would love to have, as they presumably had too much catching for one 25-man roster. With Brian McCann signed for the next three seasons, and John Ryan Murphy under team control for the next five years, Gary Sanchez‘s path to the MLB roster seemed blocked, at least with the Yankees.

Many suspected that the Yankees could, and likely should, use Sanchez in a trade, as the organization had more depth behind the plate than at other positions. Instead, Brian Cashman threw a curveball, trading Murphy on Wednesday, and not Sanchez, acquiring Aaron Hicks from the Minnesota Twins. Many assumed that the move would serve as a precursor to a Brett Gardner trade, but I’m more concerned with what this means for Sanchez, and his immediate future?

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Sanchez’s stock took a hit following the 2014 season, but after a strong showing in 2015, Sanchez has been one of the best hitters in the Arizona Fall League, winning the All-Star Game MVP, and currently leading the league in home runs, RBI’s, and total bases, and ranking seventh in OPS.

Following Greg Bird‘s Fall League showing in 2014, which saw him win MVP, his stock increased, and he was a key member of the 2015 Yankees down the stretch. While Bird will likely be back in Scranton in 2016, could Sanchez replace Bird, alongside Luis Severino, as young talent producing for the Yankees?

It is entirely possible that Cashman chooses to sign a free agent catcher, and actually rather likely, as he won’t just hand Sanchez the job of backup catcher. Austin Romine is still in the system and could replace Murphy as McCann’s primary backup, leaving Sanchez at AAA to get regular playing time, both at-bat, and behind the plate.

While a free agent catcher should be brought in, to serve as either the MLB or AAA backup, Sanchez should be back in Scranton with Bird and Aaron Judge to begin the season. I’m sure that this won’t be the most popular of opinions, as fans are excited for a young core that is on the cusp of the big leagues, but in the grand scheme of things, both long-term and short, it is best for Sanchez to get regular at-bats, while continuing to grow as a catcher.

Sanchez will have his time in the Bronx, something that is as close to a sure thing as ever after the Murphy trade, but, like Bird, he does have room to grow, and he will do more growing playing everyday in Scranton than he will sitting on the bench blocked by McCann on the depth chart.

As McCann’s backup, Murphy only got 155 at-bats in 2015, and that is not nearly enough for a top prospect who has yet to reach his ceiling. If McCann goes down, then Sanchez should get the call to the Majors, and likely get a shot at handling the pitching staff everyday.

What do you think Yankees fans? Should Sanchez remain in Scranton to begin 2016, or should he be the Yankees backup catcher?

Next: Yankees, Mariners have Discussed Brett Gardner?

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