Yankees eyeing Willson Contreras after Gary Sánchez trade?

If only general manager Brian Cashman had been an avid follower of Yanks Go Yard two years ago when we started pitching trades like this, because there have been quite a few New York Yankees-Chicago Cubs scenarios that would’ve fit whatever the Bombers are trying to do at the moment.

Now, in what feels like a “too little too late” situation, the Yankees did a partial roster teardown, sending homegrown slugger Gary Sánchez (about two years too late) and third baseman Gio Urshela to the Minnesota Twins to fill the shortstop position with a starter (Isiah Kiner-Falefa) and to add a fiery personality and another power bat to the lineup (Josh Donaldson).

But hey, the team is better! Tough to complain … unless you’re comparing the Yankees moves to what every other team did based on their needs and free agency aggression.

The only problem now? Well, there are many, but chief among them is that New York doesn’t have a starting catcher after this move. And though Sánchez’s production was that of a very good power-hitting backup, there’s nobody on the roster that fans would feel comfortable with holding down the fort for 130+ games.

But don’t forget the lockout was lifted less than two weeks ago. There are still deals to be made, especially of the trade variety now that free agency is drying up.

Could the Yankees be looking to the Cubs to fill their newly-creating catching void? A team insider speculated Willson Contreras could be on the move and that Cashman has reportedly inquired.

Are the Yankees and Cubs working on a trade for Willson Contreras?

Bruce Levine of 670 The Score revealed that the Yankees and Padres have reached out to the Cubs about Contreras’ availability “in recent weeks.”

Chicago has been making very odd moves this offseason, the first of which came when they signed veteran catcher Yan Gomes to a two-year, $13 million contract, which served as the writing on the wall for Contreras’ future. Why would the team pay two catchers $6+ million or more per season? 

Contreras is in his final year of arbitration eligibility and is set to earn ~$7.5 million in 2022. What do you say the Yankees ship Miguel Andújar to Chicago to make it happen and finally fulfill the Clint Frazier/Andújar package we’ve all been waiting for?! Kidding.

In all seriousness, Contreras is pretty much Gary Sánchez without the sky-high expectations, a lot more on-field passion/fire and better defense. Don’t believe us? Let’s do a little Player A vs Player B, shall we?

• Player A – 621 career games, 112 OPS+, .807 OPS, 583 strikeouts, 310 RBI
• Player B – 538 career games, 113 OPS+, .804 OPS, 582 strikeouts, 340 RBI

Exactly. Player A is Contreras, Player B is Sánchez. The defensive metrics separate the two, with Contreras possessing a career 6.0 dWAR and -2 Defensive Runs Saved to Gary’s 1.8 and -9. So, would this acquisition actually do the Yankees any good? Improving in the defense, availability and on-field motivation departments could actually go a long way, believe it or not.

Or are we rolling with Ben Rortvedt (injured) and Co.? Just please figure this out soon.

Gary Sánchez’s first at-bat with Twins did not go well

New York Yankees Baby Bomber Gary Sánchez is a Minnesota Twins catcher now, and it's not going well so far, actually. Not what you want.