North Shore Nine

Earlier today, Robert Murray reported (link) the Pirates have interest in catcher Gary Sanchez. With Endy Rodriguez being out the entire 2024 season, the Pirates have been left with uncertainty at the catcher position. The team has made clear that Henry Davis will enter Spring Training as a catcher alongside Jason Delay, who served as the team’s backup catcher most of the 2023 season. Henry Davis’ work ethic has been praised throughout his time with the organization, leaving me somewhat confident he’ll make the necessary improvements to catch MLB games. However, he has never started an MLB game at the position and missed parts of his past two minor league seasons with injuries. For a team looking to compete, it is an extreme risk to count on Davis to hold up as the primary catcher for a full season.

It’s worth mentioning that the Pirates signed Ali Sanchez to a split contract in December. However, Sanchez has only accumulated 13 MLB at-bats, all coming in 2020 and 2021. To put it lightly, this is not a serious option for a team looking to compete. In a free agent class that lacks catchers, a different Sanchez stands out to me: Gary Sanchez.

Sanchez was once a star for the Yankees, a two-time All-Star who won a Silver Slugger and placed in MVP voting in 2017.  However, coming in to 2023, poor performance led to a lack of MLB interest. He began his 2023 campaign by signing minor league contracts with the Giants and Mets. After playing in just three games for the Mets, he was designated for assignment and claimed by the Padres.

Just as it appeared his career was unraveling, Sanchez found success in San Diego. He produced strong offensive numbers, posting a 111 wRC+ and .780 OPS. In just 75 games, he hit 19 HRs. For reference, his wRC+ and HRs both ranked 11th in MLB among catchers with at least 250 plate appearances. Sanchez is a pull-hitter with high exit velocities, allowing him to consistently produce power for any lineup.

Defensively, Sanchez was above average in framing and throwing out runners. Also, he was a key factor in Blake Snell‘s CY Young campaign, becoming his personal catcher as the season went on.

The Pirates should not count on Henry Davis to carry the load as a primary catcher for the full 2024 season. As much as many Pirates fans (including me) believe in him, it’s a great risk to count on his body to hold up in that role.

Gary Sanchez has experience sharing reps, splitting time with young Padres catcher Luis Campusano in 2023. Additionally, Sanchez’s bat plays well enough to fill in at DH, providing depth and flexibility to give Andrew McCutchen rest. He would also provide a veteran presence and experience, which could benefit the development of Henry Davis as a catcher. If Davis commands the position, Sanchez can serve as a high-quality backup catcher and bench bat.

With volatile past performance, I expect that Gary Sanchez will sign a one-year deal this offseason. Spotrac projects Sanchez’s market value at about $9.1 million, though it could be lower depending on the level of interest around the league. In my opinion, this is a player the Pirates should be heavily interested in, as he would make them better at a position where they face uncertainty.