The Baltimore Orioles have reached a one-year agreement with catcher .as reported by Jon Heyman of The New York Post. The deal guarantees Sánchez $8.5 million, with representation by MDR Sports Management.
Sánchez, who recently turned 32, returns to the AL East after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Yankees. During that time, he emerged as a top offensive catcher, slashing .246/.328/.518 and hitting 105 home runs in 327 games through 2019. Sánchez earned two All-Star nods during this stretch, relying on his 30-to-35 home run power to compensate for his average defensive skills. However, his performance declined after 2019. His strikeout rate jumped from 24.1% to 29.5% between 2020 and 2022, and his home run numbers dropped, with just 49 homers in 294 games. Defensive struggles worsened, highlighted by a -12 Statcast catching metric in 2021.
The Yankees traded Sánchez to the Twins before the 2022 season, where he continued to struggle offensively but improved slightly on defense. After entering free agency, Sánchez signed briefly with the Mets before spending most of the season with the Padres.
In San Diego, he recaptured some power, slashing .218/.292/.500 with 19 homers in 260 plate appearances. His 114 wRC+ marked a notable bounce back. This earned him a one-year deal with the Brewers, where he served as a backup catcher and occasional first baseman or designated hitter.
Since leaving New York, Sánchez has performed as a serviceable backup catcher. He has posted a .212/.291/.412 line with a 96 wRC+ while delivering average defensive performance. In Baltimore, Sánchez will back up Adley Rutschman and fill a critical role as a right-handed option against left-handed pitchers, complementing Ryan O’Hearn at DH. Sánchez replaces James McCann, who departed in free agency, and adds depth to the Orioles’ catching unit.
The Orioles sought an experienced catcher to support Rutschman, preferring a one-year deal given the presence of top prospect Samuel Basallo. Sánchez’s $8.5 million contract reflects Baltimore’s increased financial flexibility under new owner David Rubenstein, marking a shift from prior years. With payroll projected at $122 million for 2025, the Orioles remain active in the market, targeting starting pitching and other roster needs.
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