There are still plenty of questions the New York Yankees need to answer this off-season, and one position they planned to reevaluate was catcher following the conclusion of the 2020 season.
Gary Sanchez has been the assumed starter for the last several years, but he’s gradually seen his production and efficiency on offense and defense decline. He finished 2020 with a .147 batting average, 10 homers, and 24 RBIs.
He set a career-high in strikeout percentage at 36%. He also logged a career-low .253 on-base percentage and a negative WAR for the first time in his career (-0.1).
Despite losing the privilege of catching ace Gerrit Cole and being replaced in the postseason for Kyle Higashioka, a career minor-league player, general manager Brian Cashman still feels confident that Sanchez will be their starter in 2021.
So far, during winter ball in the Dominican Republic, Sanchez has looked phenomenal, hitting home runs routinely and getting on base. Of course, the level of talent he’s playing against is significantly less, and the MLB represents a major step up.
However, it is good to see him refining his craft and continuing to play ball during the off-season, especially since he’s looking to regain full control of the starting catcher position this upcoming season.
Brian Cashman said that he sees Gary Sanchez as the "heir apparent" as the Yankees' starting catcher to open 2021.
— Bryan Hoch ?? (@BryanHoch) December 16, 2020
The New York Yankees are still piecing together the last bits of the roster:
Aside from Sanchez, the roster still needs a few players at multiple spots, including the bullpen and starting rotation. Management is still working on an extension for DJ LeMahieu, but they are confident the deal will get done sooner rather than later.
Cashman is doing a good job mediating these negotiations as he waits for other teams to make their offer so he can counter. LeMahieu’s representatives have indicated they will begin negotiating with other teams, but DJ’s desire is to stay in pinstripes.
Aside from DJ and Sanchez, Cashman believes the Yankees’ roster is almost complete, and it’s something they’re extremely proud of:
“I have a very strong nucleus in place, a roster that’s almost full and that we are proud of.”
I wouldn’t bet my chips on the Yankees spending an exorbitant amount of money this off-season to bolster the starting rotation, despite losing three veterans to free agency.
Expect to see supplemental options picked up, specifically formally injured players signing on cheaper contracts. One player to keep an eye on is Corey Kluber, who is formally one of the best pitchers in the MLB but has struggled with injuries the past two seasons. A one year deal with the Yankees could be exactly what he’s looking for.