Former Yankees catcher Gary Sánchez finally signs with perfectly satisfying team

Adam Weinrib

Texas Rangers v New York Yankees / Sarah Stier/GettyImages

Remember that dangerous point in the offseason when former Yankees catcher Gary Sánchez was working out in old New York gear, and the fan base collectively realized he was still unsigned?

At that point, folks started trying to piece together potential destinations, and ways his story would end without a Yankees contract, and it became difficult to find many logical conclusions. Most teams were fairly well set at catcher. The Yankees had specifically gone defense-first in Sánchez's wake, and stumbled upon an All-Star in Jose Trevino in the process. They made very little sense, unless their search for Triple-A depth got two levels more desperate (and even then, they'd probably continue signing no-bat filler).

The Red Sox? That'd be scary and annoying, but they went with Jorge Alfaro instead (and then didn't promote him). The Twins? They just let Gary go. The Giants?

Yeah, it turned out it was always going to be the Giants.

After San Francisco clogged their big-league backup spot with Roberto Pérez, then started Pérez over top prospect Joey Bart on Opening Day, the Giants chose to extend a minor-league pact to Sánchez on Friday. He'll report to their spring facility in Arizona, and can leave again if he's not promoted by May 1.

Free-agent catcher Gary Sánchez in agreement with Giants on minor-league contract, pending physical, source tells @TheAthletic. Will report initially to team’s spring-training home in Scottsdale, then join a minor-league affiliate. Can opt out if not promoted to majors by May 1.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 31, 2023

Former Yankees catcher Gary Sánchez goes to San Francisco Giants on minor-league deal

Not exactly a show of faith for Bart, but most importantly for the Yankees, Sánchez is both gainfully employed and probably out of their hair. After New York wraps this three-game, season-opening set with San Francisco, that's it until a potential World Series.

Last season, after Sánchez and Gio Urshela went to the Twins in exchange for Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt, the catcher/DH mostly struggled, posting 0.9 bWAR and an 89 OPS+. His power was still tantalizing, but it was translating into production even less than before in the nadir of his Yankees days.

Naturally, though, he saved it all up for his trip to the Bronx, unleashing a 473-foot home run over the bleachers in early September. Hopefully, he resurrects his career this time. And, if he does so, it'll be taking place several time zones over.

Adam Weinrib

Adam Weinrib is a Content Director on the FanSided network, and has been the co-editor at Yanks Go Yard for 6 years. He also co-hosts The Baseball Insiders Podcast thrice weekly, alongside FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray, as well as the Yanks Go Yard Podcast. Previously, he was a Senior Editor at 12up.com, and has been covering MLB and NFL for 10 years. He was also a headline and features contributor at ClickHole and Onion Sports, as well as the Associate Producer of the ESPN 30 for 30 film "Believeland". An avowed fan of the New York sports teams -- specifically the Yankees -- as well as the North Carolina Tar Heels, you can find Adam complaining mid-game on Twitter, as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn if the game goes really poorly.