5:48pm: Sanchez was diagnosed with a grade 1 strain, Boone tells reporters including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch (Twitter link). The skipper wasn’t able to give much of an estimate of the duration of the absence, saying only that “it’ll be some time” before Sanchez is back.
10:43am: The Yankees announced Wednesday that they’ve placed catcher Gary Sanchez on the 10-day injured list due to a strained left groin. Catcher Kyle Higashioka is up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in his place. New York also optioned Jonathan Holder to Scranton and recalled lefty Nestor Cortes Jr. in his place.
The team didn’t provide any sort of timeline on Sanchez within the announcement, though presumably manager Aaron Boone will address the injury prior to tonight’s game against the Twins. It’s the second IL placement of the season for Sanchez, who previously missed about two weeks due to a calf strain back in April. In 238 plate appearances this season, Sanchez is hitting .229/.299/.508 with 24 home runs.
Higashioka, 29, won’t match Sanchez’s production at the plate, although it should be noted that he’s enjoying a career-best .268/.343/.581 showing in 201 Triple-A plate appearances. He’s appeared in 42 Major League games but has compiled a woeful .143/.209/.267 batting line in that time.
Swapping out Holder for Cortes is a natural move on the heels of a video-game-esque slugfest that saw the Twins and Yankees combine for 26 runs in 10 innings last night. That game featured five lead changes, 35 total hits and an incredible 12 runs scored in the eighth inning or later. As one might expect, both teams depleted their bullpen, cycling through six relievers apiece. Cortes gives the Yankees a fresh arm that can handle multiple innings, and the Twins will surely have some roster machination of their own in the next few hours.
Couldn’t have happened at a better time. Yanks can now comfortably trade for a future backup catcher while not having to worry about trading or cutting Romine.
It looks to me.. Sanchez needs to be in better condition. I know he worked hard this off season. But he looks sluggish.. and very tired. Boone has given him time off and dh time. He has looked bad defensively and at the plate. I hope he gets rest and comes back strong
Why would speculate that Sanchez isn’t putting effort in the offseason? He’s young and hasn’t earned any real money yet. If he ends up being an average defensive catcher with an elite bat, I’m ok with that. Not every player is a Buster Posey or Joe Mauer.
Just since the all star break – which has only been like 2 weeks. He was on a tear going into the break.
Tom Murphy would be a good fit.
Frazier for Posey.
3 years ago San Francisco would laugh at you for that proposal, now they’d be begging the Yankees to do it. I know you were probably joking, but Posey wouldn’t be a bad backup at this point, his stats would probably improve. But he’d still be too expensive even if the Giants sent 9 million a year. Maybe the Yankees would just eat it, but I don’t see it happening.
Why just $9M? Posey for Frazier straight up would be a nearly fair trade based on just talent and potential. SF would end up eating almost all of Posey’s salary.
I don’t think the Giants would to paying Posey more than the Yankees are. And there is zero chance Frazier for Posey straight up happens.
I think you’re over-rating Frazier. Posey means a lot more to the Giants than you think. They’re not going to trade him for Frazier even if the Yankees take on all of his money owed. Giants will also will demand additional prospects.
An aging catcher making 19 million a year with an ops+ of 90 is not getting back Frazier or any of the Yankees top prospects.
Funny, I was just saying they should trade for a backup as insurance. I’m sure there are plenty of options but maybe a guy like Alex Avila or Pedro severino would be a fit
Just go out and get the best defensive catcher that isn’t necessary a starter. Someone like Luke Maile, because you don’t necessary need the bat just the defense late in games or during the dog day of August to keep Sanchez fresh. His salary doesn’t stop you from any other additions and would probably cost a prospect in the 20-30 range.
This might be bad to say, but this IL placement might be a good thing for Sanchez and the Yankees. Ever since Yankees got Encarnacion, Sanchez has been slumping way more than Judge’s post-HR derby or Gardner’s 2014 second-half season.
Hope he comes back healthy and perform to his standards.
How in the world did he pull a groin? He doesn’t move fast enough on the base paths or behind the plate.
The fastest I ever saw sanchez move was when he was sucker punching cabrera.
That 14-12 loss must still sting.
Yankees make the playoffs, lose in the first round. Same old story.
But what if they make it into the second round??
LOL, second round. You’re funny.
Same old story? They were one game from the WS two seasons ago.
They beat Minnesota in a wildcard game and then won 3 games to 2 against the Indians. Two central division teams. We all know about those central division teams.
Come on now, check your back pedaling.
That call for a pitch at a dude’s head was pretty quick, too.
Sanchez is an a hole.
He is a designated hitter. I know he’s near the mendoza line but thats all he is
Sanchez on IL again this year. Lazy slug and this is their way of giving him a vacation. Trade him !
Sanchez according to the Yankees is their best hitter. At least that was said awhile ago. That is certainly up for debate. My take he loses focus and is a loafer. Boone needs to get his attention. Move him way down in the order he is presently a rally killer.
He’s their best hitter? Really?
The Yankees best hitter is DJ LeMahieu. Sanchez isn’t even in the top 4.
“The Yankees best hitter is DJ LeMahieu. Sanchez isn’t even in the top 4.”
Thank You. These Yankee fans are silly.
1) DJ
2) Judge
3) Torres
4) Urshela
5) Hicks
Kind of crappy that he goes down again as he has been swinging the bat fairly well without much positive results. He’s susceptible to the low and outside slider so hopefully it’s something he can work on while down.
Sanchez 105 wRC+
Vazquez 111 wRC+
sanchez slumps for a month, gets hurt and now everyone hates him again. whats new
Polarizing fanbase for sure. Wait until Tanaka needs to skip a start and they’ll lament on how the Yankees should’ve signed Keuchel.
Exactly. Most people hated him saying he was washed up and no good. He turned around and made the all star game, and now people say it is because he is on the yankees, not performance. There are definitely some fans that think every Yankee fan is an all star – but more ya Kee haters out there by far.
Rocky as usual you equate people with different opinions to insisting on using something like “everyone hates him again”.
calling me rocky doesnt make me rocky. also, what are you even on about you pathetic fool?
Begamin….I think he thinks you’e me, but you’re spot on about him being a pathetic fool!
Sorry for you taking the flak.
I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about and as usual neither do you as I’m not even in this conversation slug!
The Cardinals have Weiters who would be available for a price
that price would be an ice cream bar. The Yankees will fine with their back ups stepping in here as long as they play decent defense. we have incredible depth in that line-up to sustain our position for the near future. Sanchez just needs to get healthy and come back when ready. Nothing more and nothing less.
the issue is of course starting pitching