The Brewers have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent Gary Sanchez, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Sanchez, 31, appeared in 75 games with the San Diego Padres last season, hitting 19 and posting a .217/.288/.492 slash line.
It was the nine-year-old veteran’s best season at the plate since he began his career as one of the New York Yankees’ young players.
Gary Sánchez is signing with the Brewers, per @JonHeyman pic.twitter.com/BSMmphuZLh
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) February 7, 2024
Three years before Sanchez started in San Diego in 2023, Sanchez hit .195 with a .681 OPS. Sanchez represents a significant upgrade over the likes of Eric Haas and Austin Nola, who signed with Milwaukee earlier this season.
Haas has a split contract, but if he is removed from the roster, he will have to give up the remaining balance to remain in the front office, while Nola will sign a minor league contract that includes a commitment to major league training camp.
If he can perform at this level in 2024, the Brewers have a chance to keep William Contreras fresh while keeping his bat in the lineup with regular time at designated hitter.
Sanchez averaged 6.6 points per defense last season and is 18 points above average over the past four seasons, according to Fangraphs.
One part of Sanchez’s defense that has given him trouble at times is his consistency, and Milwaukee is working hard to develop that area.
Milwaukee also needs to make changes to its 40-man roster before signing. Jakob Junis signed a one-year, $4 million contract with a $3 million buyout.
Junis is expected to join the Brewers and start in the rotation after making his debut in the San Francisco Giants bullpen last season.
Junis and Sanchez represent the Brewers, who have added $11 million in cap space in 2024 after trading Corbin Burns and his $15.6 million contract last week.
The former Yankees and Mets shortstop signed a one-year, $7 million deal with the Brewers on Wednesday, according to Jon Heyman of The Washington Post.
Sanchez left last season to start the 2023 season with the Giants and played 16 games for Triple-A Sacramento before signing with the Mets upon his release in May.
He played three games for the Mets before earning a spot with the Padres, appearing in 72 games and hitting .218 with 19 homers and 46 RBIs.
During the 2016 season, he batted .299/.376/.657 with 20 home runs in 53 games, finishing second in American League Rookie of the Year voting.
The Yankees traded Sanchez to the Twins in the spring of 2022 in a deal that sent Gio Urshela to Minnesota for Josh Donaldson, Isiah Keener-Falefa and Ben Rotvedt.
The Brewers have been busy recently, trading Corbin Burns to the Orioles and signing first baseman Rhys Hoskins to a two-year deal.
The Milwaukee Brewers have agreed to a deal with free agent shortstop Gary Sanchez, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Wednesday afternoon.
Sanchez finished 2023 with the San Diego Padres and had brief and unsuccessful stints with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants.
The 31-year-old made a name for himself with the New York Yankees from 2015 to 2021, before being traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2022.
Heyman later announced that Sanchez’s contract was a one-year deal worth $7 million with an opt-out until 2025. Sanchez finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2016, becoming one of the young Yankees.
He made the All-Star Game in 2017 and 2019, hit 30 or more home runs each year and won the Silver Slugger Award in 2017.
He eventually left Sanchez out of town to help New York land third baseman Josh Donaldson. The Twins released Sanchez as a free agent the following winter, and the Giants and Mets released him after 31 and 20 days, respectively.
The catcher had 19 home runs, 46 RBIs and 2.5 WAR in just 72 games while playing the best defense of his career. Sanchez is a .225 hitter with a .779 OPS and 14.9 WAR and averages 38 home runs and 98 RBIs every 162 games.
Now, Sanchez will join a Brewers team that features All-Star Williams Contreras in the starting lineup. Gary Sanchez gets a one-year contract with $7 million guaranteed and a 2025 option.
The 31-year-old catcher had a turbulent journey in the 2023 season, initially signing a minor league deal with the Giants, opting out, and eventually finding success with the Padres.
Gary Sanchez showcased his power with an impressive 19 home runs in just 72 games for the San Diego Padres, despite lower batting average and on-base percentage figures.
The signing presents an interesting dynamic for the Milwaukee Brewers, as they already have a standout catcher in William Contreras.
His ability to handle left-handed pitching effectively, as evidenced by his .267/.304/.680 slash line against southpaws, makes him a valuable asset in platoon situations.
Sanchez briefly signed with the New York Mets but was released shortly thereafter and joined the San Diego Padres for the remainder of the season.
In 72 games for the Padres, Sanchez posted a .792 OPS with 19 homers and 46 RBI, and showed signs of improvement defensively, something he struggled with during his first career with the New York Yankees.
In nine seasons in the MLB, Sanchez had no trouble showing his ability as a power hitter, hitting 173 home runs.
Gary Sanchez has been criticized for aspects of his game, such as blocking and ineffective hitting, but his overall package, including strength and improved defense, makes him an inspiration to the Brewers’ roster.
As the Brewers continue to rebuild their roster, the arrival of Sanchez will add more depth and offensive power to a team looking for success in the upcoming MLB season.
Haase has a split contract but would have to be cleared to remain in management if he is removed from the active roster, and Nola signed a minor league contract that includes an invitation to major league camp.
If he can play at this level again in 2024, the Brewers have an opportunity to keep William Contreras fresh while keeping his regular-season bat in the lineup as a designated hitter.
Although Sanchez is known as an offensive player, he also performs well defensively. He was 6.6 points above average defensively last year and 18 points above average over the past four seasons combined, according to FanGraphs.
One area of Sanchez’s defense that has struggled at times is his court frame, and Milwaukee has been a champion in developing that area. He is hitting .267 with a home run and a .984 OPS in 36 games against lefties in 2023 and has a .798 OPS against lefties in his career.
Milwaukee must make adjustments to its 40-man roster before the signings become official. While the Brewers have yet to officially announce Sanchez, the club announced another major acquisition on Tuesday.
Jakob Junis signed a one-year, $4 million contract with a $3 million buyout option. He appeared in four games and scored 10 points.
Fans reacted as follows:
Good luck Gary . Probably still got it
— BiggBreeze (@BigBreezy29) February 7, 2024
I guess that’s where Snell is going to end up
— Mathew Palumbo (@mjp938) February 7, 2024
Snell to the brewers⁉️
— N E G A T I V I T Y (@DEOdickEmOff) February 7, 2024
Snell to Milwaukee?
— . (@RaysFanatic92) February 7, 2024
They better sign snell
— HSKhumor (@kimrsl_) February 7, 2024
Garbage
— 🇮🇪💪🏼〽️💙 (@ChrisBlanc51053) February 7, 2024
