Ex-Yankees catcher Gary Sánchez has found a new home.
The backstop has agreed to a one-year deal with the Brewers, according to multiple reports. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman added that the contract is for $7 million and comes with an option for 2025.
It’s a good get for Sánchez, who bounced between the Giants and Mets last season before settling down in San Diego. Although the 31-year-old only hit .218 with a sub-.300 on-base percentage for the Padres, he added 19 home runs and 46 RBI over 72 games. Sánchez, whose receiving has been criticized since his days in pinstripes, also caught Blake Snell a team-high 18 times.
Snell, a free agent, is coming off the second Cy Young campaign of his career.
“Gary was very comforting behind the plate,” the southpaw said after he and Yankees ace Gerrit Cole won the award. “He always told me how hard I am to hit, especially when I command the zone.”
Sánchez had seven defensive runs saved last year, a personal best. His blocking, framing and pop time also improved before a broken wrist ended his season in September.
Sánchez will join a Brewers catching core that also includes William Contreras. The 26-year-old just won his first Silver Slugger after slashing .289/.367/.457 with 17 homers and 78 RBI over a career-high 141 games.
Milwaukee could also use Sánchez as a designated hitter.
A Silver Slugger himself in 2017, Sánchez debuted for the Yankees over two games in 2015 before enjoying a meteoric stretch in 2016. He crushed 20 homers in just 53 games that season, earning himself a second-place finish in Rookie of the Year voting.
Sánchez hit .278 with another 33 homers in 2017, his first full season, as he earned his first All-Star nod. Another came in 2019 after a dreadful 2018, but Sánchez hit just .187 from 2020-2021 while his defense remained a detriment.
The Yankees traded him and Gio Urshela to the Twins for Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt prior to the 2022 season. That was Sánchez’s only year in Minnesota.
