Yolmer Sanchez has won his arbitration hearing against the White Sox, as MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reports on Twitter and the team has now announced. Sanchez, a client of MVP Sports Group, will play for $2.35MM in 2018.
The 25-year-old Sanchez qualified for arbitration as a Super Two. MLBTR projected that he’d earn $2.1MM, which is also the number that the South Siders submitted to the arb panel.
After three straight seasons of middling offensive production, Sanchez emerged with a solid effort in 2017. He saw regular action for the rebuilding White Sox, slashing .267/.319/.413 with a dozen home runs over 534 plate appearances.
With highly-rated glovework at second and third base mixed in, Sanchez graded out as an average or better regular last year. If he can maintain anything like that overall productivity moving forward, he’ll represent quite a useful asset for the White Sox.
As always, you can find all the latest arbitration numbers at MLBTR’s 2018 MLB Arbitration Tracker.
chgobangbang
Sox will be still tanking if he gets 500+ at bats in 2018. He split season batting av started out very high and faded towards end of year if I recall correctly. He’s a decent reserve with versatility which is where his value is, not as an everyday starter. Also good clubhouse presence but can’t survive on roster with only that.
Ozzie Torres
Decent reserve? He’s not an excellent regular, but a lot of teams need a “decent reserve” like him. He’s very valuable for his defense and versatility. The contact of his bat, makes him much more like a “decent reserve”.
sss847
carlos sanchez is a decent reserve YOLMER sanchez is a freakin swiss army knife
chitown311
Decent reserve? I’d love for you to tell me another “decent reserve” with a 3.5 WAR. There has to be some sort of moderation by MLBTR with a large amount of these commenters. It’s hard listening to the “homers” and plain stupidity of some of these guys
jdgoat
He kind of is a decent reserve guy. Below average bat and if you look at fangraphs, his war was only 2.1. He was also brutal before 2017 too
Michael corbett
Yolmer Sanchez is such an underated ball player. Anyone that watches whitesox baseball knows this. And your right he is a Swiss army knife.
Priggs89
Are the Cubs tanking with Baez getting 500+ at bats next year?
If you look at last year’s numbers, he was arguably more valuable than the “superstar” utility man on the other side of town. I say arguably because fWAR had Baez ahead of Yolmer by 0.1, but bWAR favors Yolmer by 0.6, so at worst, he was basically equal to Baez value-wise. Fangraphs also had Yolmer ranked as the 3rd best defensive 2B in all of baseball, 6 spots ahead of Baez. I guess he doesn’t get the reputation of being a “defensive whiz” because he’s not on ESPN making every play look flashy though.
If Yolmer can hit like he did last year, which isn’t asking for much, he’s a very solid starter. He’s not a superstar by any means, but when you factor in his excellent glove work plus an average bat, he’s definitely capable of starting for a good team.
Cachhubguy
So, why don’t you start him then?
pplama
1) Yoan Moncada.
2) Yolmer’s bat doesn’t play well as an everyday 3B
3) Due to issues vs. LHP, Best utilized as the strong side of a platoon.
jdgoat
Strong side?
BlueJayFan1515
He is still well worth his contract and is underrated though.
matthew102402
Vs RHP, where most of the at bats come from.
Priggs89
He played 141 games and had 500+ plate appearances. I’d say they did start him…
And he’s slated to be the opening day 3B this year, so I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make here…
tycobb016
My favorite Sox player until we signed Wellington, now a close second favorite.
king joffrey
I find it odd that the Sox would go to arbitration with one of their rare homegrown players over such a piddling amount. Ever since the Keith Foulke unpleasantness, management has steered clear of the arby process. Sanchez is a fan-friendly player coming off a reasonably productive year. As things currently stand he’s the starting third baseman. It’s not like the Sox payroll is especially swollen. I’m glad Yolmer won.
baines03
Yeah, for THIS to be the case they take to their first arbitration hearing since 2001 is baffling. If it was a giant gap (like Avi Garcia’s) I’d understand, but this is just a head scratcher from the front office. Good for him.
michaelw
Word has it the Cubs about to sign Darvish. I have insider MLB trade app on my phone I use every year. It cost money to have but I have used it over the last 3 years and all signings are usally correct. The Stranton trade came up there an hour before they posted it on hot stove. Which is about 1 hour ahead of the Hot Stove rumours – I guess will see soon.
Something going to give around MLB soon.
chesteraarthur
Hmm, you’d hope a paid app could at least spell the player’s name correctly.
sss847
you shouldn’t be paying for twitter, you’re getting screwed
Grebek7
Get em Yolmer. Extra quarter mil’s gotta feel good. He had a good year last year, beats the heck out of a Brett Lawrie. ChiSox 2020 W.S. Champs. You gotta be bleeping me!!
cwsOverhaul
Hope Darvish is a Twin, as it’ll be a bad signing and WSox can light him up.
MilTown8888
Oof, sox lose again