7 Yankees facing uncertain futures heading into 2022

1. Gary Sánchez

El Gary. The most polarizing Yankees player in the history of the New York Yankees. And that’s saying a lot. Move on over, Roger Maris!

Sánchez’s meteoric rise in his first two MLB seasons really hurt him because the expectations were sky-high and … he never found the peak again. From 2018-2021, Sánchez has largely been bad outside of an incredible first half of the 2019 season. And we’re only talking offensively.

His defense hasn’t improved since 2016. In fact, many would argue it has regressed. He’s throwing out fewer batters, the team’s ace doesn’t want to pitch to him, and he still makes mind-boggling gaffes whether it’s not tagging a baserunner or letting a fastball fly right through his mitt and into the backstop.

We’d love nothing more than for Sánchez to blast 30 home runs and be a serviceable defensive player … but there’s just been nothing to suggest that will happen since the 2017 season. Plus, he’s yet to play more than 122 games in a single season. If he was constantly available, we’d venture to say the discourse around him wouldn’t be so harsh.

But now he’s making nearly $8 million in 2022. It’ll be his age-29 season. Here are his offensive and defensive numbers since 2018:

• Games Played – 361 (out of a possible 546)
• Batting Average – .201
• OPS – .743
• Home Runs – 85
• RBI – 208
• Strikeouts – 404
• Walks – 156
• Errors – 33
• Passed Balls – 38
• Defensive Runs Saved – (-12)

Just not that great. Gary’s future has been in question for the last three years, but the 2022 season coming to a close seals his fate. He’ll be playing elsewhere and that’s just the reality of the situation, whether you love him or not.

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