Sanchez decision looms after inconsistent season
NEW YORK — Gary Sanchez’s future with the Yankees is a fair question, general manager Brian Cashman said Wednesday.
The Yankees catcher began the season as the starter and ended up sitting out the majority of the postseason.
“We’ll evaluate that particular position because we’ll be forced to no was we move forward,” Cashman said on an after-season wrap-up Zoom call with reporters. He went on to explain the team would have meetings to dissect the season and discuss players.
“But ultimately that will be a subject we have to discuss as well, and it could very well be a change,” Cashman said. “It could very well be a competition.”
Kyle Higasioka started five of the Yankees’ seven postseason games. He moved into a regular rotation when he became G err it Cole’s personal catcher in early September. With some success at the plate as Sanchez struggled, Higashioka basically moved into the role of starter, without the Yankees ever admitting to it.
Sanchezhit.147/.253/.365 with 10 home runs, 24 RBIs and 64 strikeouts in 49 games this season. He was benched because of his offensive struggles, and over the last month Sanchez hit .155/.253/.369 with five home runs and 15 RBIs. He struck out 30 times and walked in 10 of 95 plate appearances.
“I still have a ton of confidence in Gary Sanchez,” Aaron Boone said Wednesday
But Cashman said Sanchez’s role going forward is certainly in question.
“It’s certainly a fair question obviously [with] the way Gary Sanchez’s season transpired and then the way it ended with Higashioka actually starting in the postseason as many games as he did,” the GM said. “It’s one of the discussion points we’re going to have to focus on.”
There could be some element of the unusual season that was shortened and delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
“Obviously this COVID season was unique,” Cashman said. “You saw a lot of unexpected performances throughout both leagues from players that obviously are capable of more.
“We have to determine whether this was a byproduct of unique circumstances or more [a] reflection of what is to be expected as we move forward, so wehave to have those legitimate discussions.
“I know Gary Sanchez is an extremely talented player. The offensive side, I think he swung the bat better than those numbers look. On the defensive side, I know he was fully committed to [catching coordinator] Tanner Swanson and adjusting to Tanner Swanson’s mechanical adjustments that would improve his receiving skills, which I think did happen.
“But ultimately, the end result was that the performance wasn’t Gary Sanchez-caliber and that obviously allowed Higashioka to come in and do what he did and kind of take control toward the end. “