Release the Kraken! Catcher Gary Sánchez is in agreement on a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles. Jon Heyman of the New York Post broke the news Saturday night, but the Orioles have not confirmed the deal. Sánchez will serve as the backup catcher to Adley Rutschman following the departure of James McCann.
Sanchez gets $8.5M https://t.co/36whF19uOS
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 8, 2024
Sánchez appeared in 89 games for the Milwaukee Brewers last season, launching 11 homers and driving in 37 runs over that span. Entering his age-32 season, the veteran backstop has a career .224/.309/.463 slash line with 184 home runs, 485 RBI, and a .772 OPS.
Orioles Sign Free Agent Catcher Gary Sánchez to One-Year Deal
Signed by the New York Yankees as an international free agent in 2009, Gary Sánchez spent seven years in New York before being traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2022. One of the Bronx ‘Baby Bombers,’ he got off to a fast and historic start to his major league career. The former top prospect became the fastest modern-era player to hit 19 home runs and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting in 2016. Sánchez surpassed Yogi Berra and Jorge Posada for the Yankees’ single-season catcher home run record with 33 the following year. He set multiple records in the Bronx and holds the two highest single-season home run totals for a Yankees catcher.
Nicknamed the Kraken, Sánchez is a two-time All-Star, Silver Slugger, and the fastest catcher in MLB history with 100 homers. The 32-year-old has struggled with his defense, injuries, and offensive slumps over the years, but still has some pop. He has consistently ranked in the top 10 in exit velocity, with barrel, hard hit, and home run percentages well above league average. Sánchez drew criticism in New York for his blocking, but he improved there significantly after adjusting his stance in 2021.
Since leaving the Yankees, Sánchez has bounced around the league, serving mainly as a backup catcher and designated hitter. The closest the Dominican-born slugger has gotten to a near-everyday role was with the San Diego Padres in 2023. Signing Sánchez gives the Orioles another right-handed power bat with postseason experience in their lineup and a veteran presence behind the plate.
Photo Credit: © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
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