April 1: The Giants have announced the signing.
March 31: The Giants have agreed to a minor league contract with free-agent catcher Gary Sanchez, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (Twitter link). Sanchez will make a salary of $4MM if he cracks the major league team, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The deal is pending a physical. Sanchez, a client of the MDR Sports Management, can opt out of his contract if he’s not in the big leagues by May 1. For now, he’ll head to the team’s spring facility to get some extra work in extended spring training.
Sanchez, 30, spent the 2022 season with the Twins after being traded to Minnesota alongside Gio Urshela in the deal that sent Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt to the Bronx. It was the first season Sanchez had ever spent with another organization, and while his oft-panned defensive ratings improved considerably with the Twins, his bat was nowhere near its peak levels.
In 471 plate appearances with Minnesota, Sanchez slashed .205/.282/.377 with 16 home runs and 24 doubles. His strikeout rate, while down from its peak level, was still a bloated 28.9%. Sanchez’s production against lefties, or lack thereof, was particularly problematic. In 126 plate appearances, he slashed just .165/.270/.284.
Sanchez’s peak seasons in 2016-17 and 2019 feel like a distant memory. Even with a lost 2018 season sandwiched in the middle of those three standout years, he batted a combined .247/.329/.518 over that stretch, averaging 26 homers per season (and 46 homers per 162 games played). In the three years since, he’s turned in a combined .195/.287/.394 batting line.
As previously noted, Sanchez’s glovework did appear to be on the upswing in Minnesota. Twins brass was regularly complementary of the work that he put in, and Defensive Runs Saved went from dinging him at a -10 clip in 2021 to crediting him at +1 in 2022. Sanchez also posted positive pitch-framing grades per both FanGraphs and Statcast, and his 28% caught-stealing rate was a few ticks higher than the league-average 25%. On the whole, it was arguably the best defensive showing of his career.
For the Giants, adding further depth behind the plate is sensible, given the general struggles of former No. 2 overall pick Joey Bart and the lack of clear alternatives behind him. Veteran Roberto Perez opens the season as the other backstop on the big league roster, along with Rule 5 catcher/outfielder Blake Sabol. San Francisco also has veteran Austin Wynns in Triple-A. Sanchez figures to eventually join him.
Bart, now 26 years old, was hailed as one of the sport’s top prospects from the moment he was drafted in 2018, but in parts of three MLB seasons he’s batted .222/.294/.351 with a sky-high 38% strikeout rate. He’s been vastly better in relatively limited Triple-A action, batting .293/.358/.464 in 310 plate appearances, but he’s yet to carry any of that production over to the big leagues.
The 2023 season will be a crucial one for Bart, who’s entering his final minor league option season. The extent to which he’s able to develop will have major long-term ramifications for the organization as a whole. Sanchez gives them another short-term alternative and a possible replacement in the event of an injury, but it’s unlikely he’ll supplant Bart behind the dish anytime soon, as the Giants likely feel they need to give Bart as much opportunity as possible before determining whether a long-term switch is merited.
Surprised to see this. He was a stud at 24 and now unwanted at 30? Is it a function of the theory that with all the hard throwers and young talent, guys peak at 23-24 instead of 26-28, and can be done at 30?
Gary Sanchez has a low baseball IQ. Hes physically gifted but does not know how to adapt. Hes made some of the worst plays I’ve ever seen as a catcher. Once pitchers adapted to him, he became finished
“He’s made some of the worst plays I’ve ever seen as a catcher.” Can I introduce you to Yasmani Grandal?
I don’t know you guys, have you seen Stephen Vogt’s “attempt” at catching?
I have never seen any MLB catcher just straight up not catch the pitched ball and have it hit off their chest as Vogt did. Guy had no idea what was coming or how to catch it. Moneyball was a scam, hire real catchers.
You’re rambling.
Bart has the physical tools but not the brightest bulb.
I have the physical tool. With the brightest bulb.
Georgia Tech man…
I have no idea why they signed him, even if it is to a minor league deal.
Sabol looks good.
I’m sorry, I can catch a cold better than this guy…
BeCAUSE.
That’s why.
The fact that Gerrit Cole began working with Kyle Higashioka as his personal catcher tells you everything you need.
There was a portion of time where Tim Lincecum wasn’t caught by Buster Posey. There was a portion of time where Clayton Kershaw had his own catcher. It’s a pretty common thing.
Hey fact man! No thank you, a lot? Yes, but i’m certain you too know good pitchers require good special catcher relationship. Even selfish. If you know what i mean?
@MTG
Are you seriously trying to compare a potential HOF catcher to Sanchez? Even with C. Kershaw having is on personal catcher it wasn’t like AJ Ellis was a terrible catcher compared to Sanchez. And it was AJ Ellis who was behind the plate for Kershaw’s no hitter and not his personal catcher. G. Sanchez is a terrible defensive catcher and pitch framer. He stuck around for so long because of his bat.
Greg Maddux… anyone but Javy Lopez.
Lopez was his personal non-catcher.
Sanchez was decent as a catcher last year, and playing catcher is easily the most cerebral position in baseball. Saying a starting catcher has a low baseball IQ is crazy.
Sanchez addressed the supposed shortcomings in his game last year with a low error rate and better than average pitch framing. Even with the Twins changing his stance, Sanchez managed to keep throwing out attempted base swipers at a slightly above league average rate.
Sanchez’s rank vs other 500+ inning catchers from Fangraphs –
Fielding Pct. (.994) 16th of 40
PB + WP Rate (23.03 innings per) 26th of 40
CaughtStealing (28.0%) 17th of 40
Catcher Framing (+1 runs) 18th of 44 (Statcast data)
This article is decidedly biased in tone against Sanchez in my opinion. Give credit where it’s due. Sanchez was a better than average catcher by the stats almost across the board last year.
Sanchez’s bat; however, continued to show overall career decline. Sanchez still has pop in the bat, but he seemed to be a bit passive at the plate, seemingly trying to force a higher walk rate. It just wound up with him being rung up on strikes looking. There’s plenty to like in the plate approach, but the passive approach didn’t serve him well.
Will Sanchez rebound? Who knows. He’s getting a little older now, but he was certainly worth a roster spot so it’s surprising to see him get to this point. I suspect he was just asking for too much and found himself in a tough spot after Spring Training started up.
If Sanchez was this top catcher like you’re portraying him, he wouldn’t have needed to sign a minor league contract after the season has already started. There just MAY be a reason why every major league team said “Nah” when he came across the radar in the offseason.
Shoot, even the Giants trust some unproven kid named Sabol over Sanchez
He can be a top defensive catcher in the league. His offense shows little to be desired. If he can change his approach to the plate and lift the bat off his shoulders, it would boost his ceiling again. If any team can do that, one would be San Francisco. If he can pick up where he left off defensively last year and listen to the hitting coaches in SF, he could be a steal for the Giants. It all comes down to Sanchez and his ability to find his former self. Let the Bronx go and recapture his former gloryp
Based on the stats you gave Sanchez defensively was middle of the pack. Since catcher is a weak position overall in the major leagues that isn’t really all that impressive
The reason most passed is the 4M guarantee he got when he makes the roster
You know that means he was asking for even more, most likely
It doesn’t matter if it’s middle of the pack or not. Throwing out 28% of base stealers is better than most catchers including backups. All he has to do is transition his offense with his defense, and he would be one of the top catchers in the league. If you are basing it strictly off of Runs saved and other metrics, then you are stuck too much into a one sided metric system. Defensively, he was arguably a top 10 catcher in the League last year.
@latino heat. Catcher is the most demanding and valuable defensive position in baseball. Fangraphs has catcher as +12.5 runs. It’s how Sanchez managed 1.3 fWAR despite having a poor bat and being a poor base runner last year.
Sanchez isn’t J.T. Realmuto or something and I certainly didn’t portray him that way even if you’re trying to manipulate my statement that he was “worth a roster spot” into him being a stud. He was the 16th of 29 catchers with 300+ plate appearances in terms of fWAR.
Sanchez was more valuable than any catcher for the following teams:
Milwaukee
New York Mets
Cleveland
San Francisco
Houston (pre Vasquez trade)
Tampa Bay (pre Betancourt trade)
Kansas City
San Diego
Colorado
Arizona
St. Louis
Los Angeles Angels
Detroit
Just off a quick glance anyway. So Sanchez would have been a better option behind the plate than what about 1/2 the teams in the league had to trot out there. Seems to me that’s worth a roster spot considering each team carries at least 2 catchers.
Like I said, I expect Sanchez was just asking too much considering his mediocre performance, pricing himself out of the market and finding himself without a landing spot before the start of Spring Training.
@Martras
You fail to realize everything you said pertaining to last year has no bearing on his overall career. While he may have been a better than average catcher last year where was his bat? Since 2019 he has steadily declined offensively. So much that he wasn’t even offered a minor league deal until after the season started.
WAR isn’t a very good gauge for valuing catchers.
Catching is all about the relationship a catcher has with the pitchers of the pitching staff. That’s the reason Martin Maldonado is making five million dollars this year and Yadi is considered a first ballot Hall of Famer.
@lamars You don’t think how a player performs across a previous full season has any bearing on how he’s viewed? That’s a novel philosophy. Well, if that were to be the case, I guess we can say Gary Sanchez is a stud at the plate.as far as catchers go. (he’s not and nobody sees him that way).
Can’t have your cake and eat it, too.
@drascoo36. Molina is getting into the HoF with 55.7 career fWAR. He also hit very well across his peak .298/.352/.423 OPS .775 OPS+ 111 from 2008-2014 where he earned his reputation that continued to see him elected to the All Star Game
If it weren’t for Molina hitting so well during his peak, he’d just be viewed as a another Drew Butera and the Cardinals would have pulled the plug on him starting in favor of a more well rounded catcher after a couple seasons.
No I don’t, why? Because he had is best season behind the plate since he joined the league. And yet he continued to regress as a hitter. If what he did last year was so good why didn’t he have any suitors?
Molinas career WAR is 42.1 per baseball reference and that is well below the average career WAR of not just a Hall of Famer but a Hall of Fame catcher.
Molinas resume doesn’t add up for. Hall of Fame caliber player, aside from his reputation. Good Gloves are subjective. All-Star games are purely a popularity contest. 1 silver slugger and 2 mvp finishes inside the top 5 is an above average MLB career but statistically, not a Hall of Fame resume.
Molina is a first ballot Hall of Famer, not because he was a decent hitter for a catcher for a few years but because of his reputation behind the plate. His defense, staying with one organization, ability to handle pitching staffs
Because if you eat the cake, you no longer have it. It’s gone, haha. 😉
@drascoo36 – 55.7 fWAR and a much lower 42.1 bWAR. The thing is, WAR is not static. The formulas used to calculate WAR have been adjusted over time. By the time we get to Molina’s voting period, it’s likely catcher WAR will include framing.
Molina will get in on reputation which fueled many of his 10 All Star Game appearances. 10x All Star is hard to ignore for voters.
How do you think “framing” is going to be included when by all accounts it’s going to be obsolete in a few years?
@drascoo36, I expect catcher framing will still count for the years it was used. The robo umps are going to make a massive change in catchers in the future, but that doesn’t undo the work the previous generation of catchers put in. Molina played in an era where catcher framing was a thing which is credited with producing a lot of value.
That tells he the stats are boolsheet.
The guy was a passed ball machine. He let runners advance two bases at times, and trotted down to first base on double play balls, including one to end a close game. Good riddance.
Nobody’s biased. Give it up.
Low baseball IQ is at its least level of importance as ever in the game. I’ll sit at various games and manually count mental mistakes that a professional shouldn’t be making. My last game was Mariners and Royals in Peoria a few weeks ago. 10 clear mental errors. 3 of which heavily impacted the game outcome.
In the US the nature of our modern youth tourney travel is forcing kids into 10 games a weekend and little time to work out the intangible IQ qualities. The game is essentially becoming a much more purely physical endeavor. That’s also an oft scouting take as well. But that’s for our US situation.
Game awareness is very important.
Wait, you mean players from Seattle and KC made a bunch of mental errors only a week or two into spring training??! Release everyone!
Yes, major league baseball players made mental errors with a week left in spring training I’d honestly not wish for high school players to make. These aren’t physical errors. They’re instinctual errors that don’t show in the box score. And they get made no matter what point of the season players are in. They’re the bane of pro scouting
It’s not just a low baseball IQ he is a paycheck player. He has said when he was still in the minors that he doesn’t enjoy the game. The guy is super talented and naturally gifted but without the drive to succeed those qualities will only get you to the show where every player is talented. Without the intangibles star players possess you won’t go far.
I dunno about his defensive past but I’d believe it after this contract. 4 mill if he makes the MLB roster with a team that could give him a lot of playing time? If he doesn’t impress in spring training that’s a strong deterrent to not giving him a spot on the team… leaving him in a real bad position for the regular season. The general lack of market interest should have warned him that this was a year to showcase his comeback and get AB’s wherever he can.
I’ve never heard of that theory. It’s a function of pitchers being able to exploit holes in his swing and him being unable to close them.
Sanchez was just more passive at the plate last year. Too much nitpicky behavior on his part looking for the perfect pitch.
The Sanchise goes West for some sunshine.
I think Gary’s bat can still be scary at times. When he’s on he could definitely hit a few out.
@CaptainJudge: Sure his bat can be scary at times. But his batting average indicates that it’s maybe 21% of times at best.
The catcher is involved with every play in a game. He has to anticipate what every other player on the field will do and know exactly what to do. Gary Sanchez is stupid.
But still more intelligent than your comment.
But he’s still stupid.
It’s a shame a once proud franchise has turned to dump diving these last 5 years.
@fred
Chill. It’s a minor league deal. Every single team makes them.
He can opt out by May 1st, and more than likely will. If he doesn’t, he’ll likely float in the minors for the rest of the year, unless he’s proven he is not done and earned his chance. Or the team is overwhelmed by injuries, in which case Gary Sanchez is the least of your concerns.
*dumpster diving
I liked “dump diving” better
Zaidi’s just taken a bad roster and made it worse with Sanchez. I say this as a Yankee fan that watched him hundreds of games
He’s a ‘ me guy ‘ bad clubhouse dude that doesn’t care about game preparation and necessary defense that goes w/ catching . And the bat doesn’t play anymore.
Farhan Zaidi is taking his dumpster diving cheapAsss approach to a whole new level with the Sanchez deal
Relax 27champ, it’s an MiLB deal with an opt out on May 1st, that’s a month. They will take a look see and if it doesn’t work, no biggie
He’s a bandwagon yankee fan you can tell by his name. Think he understand the difference between a minor league deal and signed to the major league deal?
A minor league deal.
Pete, I wrote MiLB deal, that’s a minor league deal.
Agnes — I was responding to someone above.
Oh sorry Pete! It’s hard to tell on MLBTR comments because they don’t nest well. Thank you
Yeah, I know. No worries, I just wish Tim and his crew could fix the multiple duplicate posts that appear.
Amazing how there are always 8 thumbs up on all your posts.
Maybe you should not be so obvious with your self love.
gfan, are you replying to me? I do not upvote my own posts. What the heck?
No. @27 chumpy
Agnus you actually a breath of fresh air here.
Oh thanks gfan! You are pretty swell yourself 🙂
Have a nice night
A voice of reason is rare on here. So much negativity. One game played, season over! One minor league signing, Bart’s a bust !
I’m tired of the offseason speculation nonsense.
Let’s enjoy watching the games and let the season play out. Go Giants!
@gfan: You actually keep track of such a dumb thing? Get a life instead.
Love it gfan! The hot take is unfortunately life on the internet. We all know baseball is the long game, so I totally agree with you. Let’s see how the theater of this year unfolds, I’m so happy it’s spring and baseball is back! Go Giants!!!
Hey Blue, be nice. No need to tell gfan or anyone to “get a life”. Don’t be rude or bully, it’s unbecoming. Enjoy a beautiful day
Yes Mr Baron.
I will work harder to appeal to your standards. As soon as I can get a life I will let you know where I found it so you can get one too.
I already do. That’s how I know that you, you know, don’t.
You don’t know me.
If you did you’d have some respect. Go back under your bridge.
@Fred-3
dumpster diving???
Since when did a team dumpster diving win 107 games? Second, this is a minor league deal and has no effect on the current roster.
That was an outlier season. They were .500 in 2022 (and were only at .500 because the Padres rested players the last series of the season so the Giants swept them), a few games under in 2020, and well under in 2019. They’re a mediocre team.
Fred, I’m so glad you have a crystal ball.
fred-3
“…the Padres rested players the last series of the season so the Giants swept them”
What? Maybe do some research before posting out-and-out falsehoods. First of all. the Giants didn’t sweep. They needed one game to reach .500 and that’s what they did, losing the first 2 and winning the last.
The Padres started Musgrove in game 1. Morejon also pitched, and Hader got the save. The regular lineup started except for Machado.
The Padres started Manaea. in game 2, The regular lineup started except for Soto.
Two of the 3 games were started by regular rotation pieces for the Padres, and 2 of the 3 were bullpen games for the Giants because of injuries/rest. Cobb started game 2 which they lost.
Game 3 was a bullpen game for the Padres (Stammen), as it was for the Giants (Brebbia). The regular Padres lineup started including both Machado and Soto.
In future, I wouldn’t rely on your memory if I were you. It appears to be extremely faulty.
.
That’s just semantics. My point still stands, they are a .500 team or worse withstanding an outlier season.
So my pointing out that one of the “facts” you posted was wrong, is just me using semantics?
Talk about semantics, unless you’re referring to their current record of 1-1, it’s correct to say the ‘were’ a .500 team, not ‘are’. I myself cannot see into the future so I’m taking a wait and see attitude, and not taking your word for how they’ll do this year.
You decided to argue over something that wasn’t even essential to my argument, which is the Giants are a mediocre team.
You made a big thing about a total falsehood and don’t even have the guts to admit you were wrong. This is what you wrote:
“…(the Giants) were only at .500 because the Padres rested players the last series of the season so the Giants swept them”
Clearly the implication was that they shouldn’t even have had a .500 record in 2022. When you were clearly wrong on that point you just shifted the focus to the other part.
And maybe try to catch up to what my last point was. You’re telling everyone what the Giants are now. It isn’t even stated as an opinion. What happened in 2019, 2020, and 2022 is irrelevant to 2023. Yes, they were mediocre last season, but rather than take your word for it, I’ll wait and see what this team actually is this year.
Yeah dude, that statement was false I should’ve looked that up. They still finished .500 and ittill doesn’t change the fact that they’re a mediocre team and Farhan loves the waiver wire, which is inarguable
Ugh I can’t stand the 107 thing. That’s going to be the new “3 in 5” that gets repeated for the next couple years anytime anyone criticizes a move by this franchise. “Yeah, well, we may be 30-61, but we won 107 so we’re still coming back”.
It doesn’t make you a bad fan to acknowledge that the 107-win season was lightning in a bottle (and included Belt, Posey, etc, who are all no longer on the team). So in that regard, you’re right: dumpster diving didn’t win 107 games. And it still hasn’t.
@Semut
While I realize the team winning 107 games was lightning in a bottle. The team even finishing at 81-81 still isn’t a dumpster diving team. What went wrong in 2022 was the significant injuries to key players, Belt played only 78 games, Wade who played 110 games in 21′ only played in 77 and wasn’t close to the same player in 21′, Crawford who averaged 148 games managed only to play in 118 and had the worse season in his career. Not only did he get hurt, his backup got injured and even his replacement from the minors got hurt. The bullpen was another problem as Leone and McGee both collapsed with the latter being flat out terrible. Yet, the pitching staff finished with a 3.85 overall ERA. And if the team had been remotely healthy they could easily have challenged the 89-73 Padres for a wild card spot.
If this team experiences more injuries like last year and another collapse in the bullpen this team will finish .500 or below. If the team can stay relatively healthy then they will contend for a wild card spot.
107 wins in 2021 is history just like 81-81 in 2022. Zaidi’s pattern since becoming POB is “dumpster diving and platoon players.”
Because bringing in Aubrey Huff, Pat Burrell, Cody Ross, Marco Scutaro, Tim Hudson, Jake Peavy, Michael Morse, and Travis Ishikawa were all seen as surefire 100% moves when they all happened during the World Series era.
Joey Bart! Put a fork in him.
Oh lord, BART…..The first round BUST that Giants fans collectively are still in a state of denial over. Watch they’ll post this magical thinking Homer nonsense about how he needs more ABs or some other nonsense. Joey Bart is a BUST. Period
Uh, we don’t “collectively” like Joey – I would say the majority of SF fans would like to see him dumped asap. That’s why it appears Kapler doesn’t like him – just look at his expression after he strikes out nearly 40% of the time. He walks off with his head down like Charlie Brown, like he knew what was coming. He approaches each AB like it’s a predetermined K, so why even bother. Classic head case.
His post-K demeanor reminds me of Belts. The only difference is Bart usually swings at strike 3 while Belt would just watch it go by, then shake his head in disbelief
semut—hilarious!
Giants fan here. Haven’t believed in Bart for a couple years now and plenty of other Giants fans feel the same. Nice troll attempt, though.
@27cnampyankees
No, we Giant fans aren’t delusional and realize he is bad unlike you Yankees fans who thought Sanchez was the next Munson because he could hit for power.
No Yankees fan ever called Sanchez the next Munson. The next Posada maybe, but absolutely not the next Munson.
Edit* he was compared to Piazza often by the national media. But not Munson.
Sorry, you’re right, Munson was a reach and I should have said Posada.
27 Yankees doucher! Bart does need more abs. He’s had a little over a half year being the full time catcher. And get over the “27 champs,” it’s not 1942 anymore. Have you guys even won a World Series this century? SF has 3 this century, nobody cares about what happened in the early to mid 20th century. And quit worrying about SF, shouldn’t you be focused on the Astros? You’ve pretty much been their b***** the last decade. Where’s Isaiah Kinier Fefa or whatever the hell his name is? Talk about busts!
27Yankees is just trying to provoke. Probably not even a Yankees fan. It’s best to ignore the troll you upvotes himself using his 10 other burner accounts. That’s a pretty sad existence actually. The only attention he gets in life is by instigating reactions from folks here with obnoxious b.s. takes he doesn’t even believe himself. Now I feel sorry for him in a way. Maybe somebody needs to buy him a puppy.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b, You’re correct about 27chumpy, except that he is a Yankees fan. He admitted it once when his username was rightyspecialist. He said he was a Yankee fan who was living in SF for work.
Roberto clears
Oh no. Please make the Giants articles stop, MLBTR. The comments make for such brutal reading. It’s like the old watching a car crash situation. You know you shouldn’t, but you just can’t look away. Surely the Red Sox are doing something…..
Welcome Gary. Good luck.
You don’t want to read one more recap of how the Giants’ offers to Judge and Correa fell apart? But seriously… I hope Sanchez works out for them.
Ha ha. I was chest out, proud and tall 2 days ago. Now I’m a crumpled shell of a man trying to find a dark corner in a room without internet.
Hi foppert, I’m right there with you! Big hugs! Things will settle down somewhat. But Z likes to tinker so there will always be moves. People need to chill, he tries to improve the team even if it’s incremental. I do wish Bryce Johnson had just made the team but I understand the roster moving is complex but the Beaty addition is hard on the clubhouse. I also wish Bart wasn’t a strike out machine but he is, he’s had uneven development with the Covid year (Buster was out), then Buster back for 2021, then Buster retired for 2022. But Bart has had time and his strike out rate is alarming. Maybe a Perez/Sanchez combo can last until Bailey arrives?
I also wish we played today and it’s supposed to rain in NY tomorrow! Ack!
Stay strong!
Thanks Agnes. I knew you would be there for me with some soothing words of wisdom. I’ll be alright. ✊
You guys need to wake up and stop blindly agreeing with every dumb move FZ makes. The guy isn’t cut out for creating a winning team and the owners are getting richer because fans like you are stupid enough to keep paying to see this dumpster fire of a team. He isn’t putting a winning team on the field and what’s worse is they aren’t entertaining. At the end of the day fans will watch even a bad team if there are stories to follow during the season like the development of a rookie, a homerun chase, a cy young candidate, or anything other than $180 million worth of one year prove it contracts. We have nothing to cheer for on this team and it’s been 5 years! Why in Gods name is anyone still convinced that FZ knows how to win. He knows how to make the owners money and that’s it!
Sure thing. Can you also tell me what I should be having for dinner tonight ?
Thanks.
I just feel like for several years now SF has been the bridesmaid in a lot of deals they wanted to build from. They’ve gotten no one really. I expect them to make a major Ohtani push, though.
Very sound financial team. But it’s like they haven’t been able to get the ball rolling with the Bryce Harpers or the Carlos Correas. They just end up being negotiating leverage for other teams
Man, I rather see a Perez/Sabol combo over a 30 defenseless catcher that can’t hit over .220.
frugalfarhan—Brian Sabean was the Giants GM for 14 years before we won a World Series and a lot of those were bad years. Zaidi is barely getting going. Chill out
Hey, @frugalfarhan is back!
“We have nothing to cheer for on this team and it’s been 5 years!”
Did you already forget that the Giants had a 107-win season that led the league in home runs in a season and broke the Dodgers’ division winning streak, all in a season where being .500 would’ve been a miracle? Or are you really this obtuse?
frugalfarhan —
— Frustrating, I know. Baseball can be like that. I’m excited to see Schmitt, Harrison, Wisely, B. Johnson, Villar and Sabol, Bailey too..
Have a coke and a smile and STFU!
Maybe botulism?
Too much sugar. Not good for the temple. I’m wearing a massive smile though. Apologies for responding to your request.
But.. but.. don’t you want to see another ‘Arson Judge’ comment?? That totally hasn’t gotten old yet (eyeroll)
@foppert
Glad I’m not the only one to cringe every time I see “Giants” in the title of an article when I think of how ugly the comments will be.
Although comments on Chaim in Red Sox articles are usually even worse.
sabol bart and perez are all better anyways
So is Wynn.
I said they should have gotten this guy when he was available a month ago or so. Nice move. At least considering his past homers and potential. Let’s just throw him out there and maybe strike luck with some bombs.
Kris Bryant signed with the Rockies. Just offer more money than the field.
Fairly surprised he didn’t land as a C2 somewhere this offseason. I think he was probably hoping for an injury that would have opened things up for him, but the C market was fairly quiet much of ST aside from journeymen moving around.
With a competent Perez already backing up Bart, and Rule 5 pick Blake Sabol as the C3, I’m not sure there’s going to be a great path to getting selected for the MLB squad anytime soon. They’ll keep running Bart out there in hopes the bat comes around.
Sabol is mostly gonna be OF and his R5 status means he’s only going to leave the roster if he’s REALLY struggling. He didn’t look too bad behind the plate in the games I watched though. Even if he gets returned/moved, it is going to come down to Perez’s health/performance, and most C2s get a pretty long leash these days at the plate as long as their defense is good.
mostlytoasty, In the Giants’ Offseason In Review article, it said that Jake Wong had been sent to the Reds for Sabol. That would mean he needn’t be kept on the ML roster, and could be optioned to the River Cats.
But, since I don’t think they want to carry 3 catchers, and they view Sabol as a catcher and not an OFer, I wonder if Bart might be the one to be optioned if he doesn’t figure things out fairly soon.
But Sabol was taken from the Pirates. If Sabol doesn’t stick, the Pirates have to be compensated, or they can take him back
Yeah my understanding is he would still have the option first of being returned to the Pirates should they want to try and move him
I asked this question in one of the insider chats. The path to the Giants 40 man roster for Sabol if removed from the 26, is clear waivers first, then cut a deal with the Pirates in a trade.
Okay, I was mostly wrong. It was the Reds that took Sabol in the Rule 5 draft. from the Pirates, not the Giants. The Giants then acquired Sabol from the Reds for Jake Wong. So Sabol is required to stick on the ML roster all season.
He went from kraken to croak’in in a very short time.
Let’s see how he does ,now that he’s been humbled!
At least he picked the franchise with the worst catching corps in baseball.
Hardly true, though not awarding any awards to SF catchers.
Giants gonna pay him in San Francisco sourdough bread
Rice-a-Roni.
The San Francisco treat aka Gary’s 11pm snack before bed
I can see a scenario now where Bart is sent down and Perez and Sanchez split the catching duties while Bart gets his last season option in the minors to work on striking out and more catching duties to be worked on.
Sabol stays at OF and spelling catchers if need be or is released back to Pittsburgh.
It looks like Sabol goes back to Pirates when outfielders on IL return.
I prefer Perez over Sanchez because he’s better defensively. If defense is above average I can live his below average offense.
At some point you either have to play Bart, of give him a change of scenery
Not until he’s out of options, really
Technically true, but there’s always risk of demoralizing a player.
They better give Sabol plenty of time. So far, he’s a gift.
First of all, Sabol was a Rule 5 pick from the Reds, not Pirates. I think you’re confusing him with Perez who had been with the Pirates last season.
Second, the Giants sent Jake Wong to the Reds for Sabol, so he isn’t going back no matter what.
Third, it’s my opinion that unless Sanchez has some huge turnaround he won’t be on the ML roster unless there are multiple injuries. On the depth chart, I’d put Sanchez 5th behind Wynns.
Sabol was taken by the Reds, from the Pirates in the rule 5 draft . The Giants likely worked out the deal with the Reds because they didn’t think Sabol would make it down to their spot in the draft. So he can indeed still go back to Pittsburg
Yeah, you’re right. I misinterpreted what was in the Offseason Review piece.
Maybe Bart will have more of a Mike Zunino trajectory and show some value
Bart = Bust
Giants obviously do not believe he will turn it around
I love former top prospect busts. They’re all kinds of cheap and upsidey
Wynns is a much better all around catcher than Sanchez……another questionable move by Farhan unless Bart is ticketed for another minor league seasoning move.
Just give us a .250 average with 25 hrs and we are happy!! Lol
@giantwarrioras49ersraiders
.250 is the new .300!
Mendoza with power and a catcher. Sorry for the whiners working from home in their mom’s basement.
I wonder where Gary would be if he were still under the tutelage of Girardi instead of taking horrible advice from Cashman in concentrating on pulling and elevating the ball while also being coddled. He has never came close to the player he was his first few years under Girardi and really developed bad habits swinging for the fences. He was one of the best catcher I have ever seen when he came up and although I’m only 37 I’ve seen some greats in my time. Sad TBH…this guy should be somewhere along in his path to cooperstown.
I’d like 10 examples of players who were coached up.
Smart athletes don’t want to languish in baseball minors.
I’ve seen too many Twins who lack skills yet they did their time in the minors.
At one time, he could hit. He’s never been a catcher. Framing is nonsense. If you can’t block a ball in the dirt, you shouldn’t be back there. I could never tell whether he had poor range, because of his lack of effort. It was almost like he was saying if the pitcher couldn’t hit his mitt, he couldn’t be bothered.
He lollygags onto the field.
He lollygags after passed balls.
He lollygags down to first base on ground balls. Do you know what that makes him?
A lollygagger?
A LOLLYGAGGER!
You remind me of my 86 year old father!!! LOL … my parents used to always say that word…usually directed at me . Not one you hear every day, anymore.
Farhan Zaidi = Chaim Bloom
Sanchez was the last unsigned player from MLBTR’s Top 50 “Honorable Mention” listing. I know, big deal. It’s a no risk – no brainer signing.
There are only about 5 elite catchers in the big league now including Rutschman, Will Smith, Sean Murphy &; JTR. Houston won it all with a catcher that can’t hit, so clearly defense, ball blocking, pitch calling, pitch framing and arm strength are as important or more important than hitting for a catcher.
Seems like Roberto Perez is as close a player to Martin Maldonado as it gets. Bart still has tools and can still hit the ball 115mph, which few players can.
I don’t see Sanchez making the team unless as an, emergency catcher/DH and only if someone gets hurt.
Yeah, I agree Wilmer. Funny thing is a few years ago Sanchez had the reputation as a good bat/poor defender. Now it seems like it’s more, poor bat/average defender. That earlier version seems like he would have been more valuable since he could be plugged in as a DH. But since he’s not going to offer what Perez does behind the plate, and not an improvement over Bart at the plate. I think you’re spot on; he only makes the ML roster in case of injury, and it would probably take multiple injuries at that.
Get ‘em
Is it Sanchez’s attitude ? I mean if the articles going to denigrate him, what could they possibly say about the Detroit Tiger’s ? His batting number’s last year would have made him one of Detroit’s best hitter’s. You get on base 126 times versus 136 striking out, you’d be worshiped in Detroit. If Sanchez is so bad is Detroit even a Major League team ?
Detroit is lousy. They drafted a small first baseman, and he’s not going to cut it. Detroit has a big home run hitting outfielder in the minors, being blocked by his brother. 4 million that’s Austin Meadows money, certainly Gary could double that guys home run output from last year, but Detroit couldn’t afford him ? What a hoot, what a howl, but I did get a double beat the streak opening day with Meadows and Riley.
I’s like’s comma’s
and’s apostrophe’s
I still think Bart needs a real chance. Last year was his first chance at full time catcher & yes he struggled. Newsflash, most young hitters do struggle. I was curious to see how he’d bounce back, but it’s looking like he’s not even going to get that. Of course he’ll get starts here & there & pinch hits, but I think they’d be better off telling Bart he’s the catcher no matter what, & quit signing all these catchers. You’re basically telling Bart he’s done. I woulda started him full time, then by July if he hasn’t improved, then make moves. What do you have to lose, this team is mediocre with no star power & has no chance of contending. At least see if Bart & Villar can play.
Bonds Away, listen to Farhan’s interview on KNBR from the other day. It’s archived as a podcast on their website. He talks extensively about Bart and it’s a very level headed and complimentary take.
Even though Bart has had an uneven trajectory (brought up in 2020 Covid year when Buster sat out, sent back in 2021 with Buster back, back up in 2022 when Buster retired), he has had lots of chances and he’s 26 years old. Not saying with the right atmosphere, he couldn’t still be a great catcher but he strikes out at an alarming rate and most of the pitchers don’t like throwing to him. He’s had lots of support and we want him to succeed but at some point Farhan has to move on.
I love me some Farhan on a podcast.
I need to check that out. Thanks Agnes.
Agnes. Fair enough, but can you help me understand something because I’m a basketball guy & I don’t know the intricacies & inside stuff about baseball, but what’s up with “pitchers don’t like throwing to him.” I understand pitcher & catcher need to be in sink, but to me, it sounds like an excuse if a pitcher isn’t doing well. If you’re a great pitcher, does it really matter who catches the ball? I’ll probably get harassed for asking (again I’m a novice fan) but isn’t that a little overrated? As for Bart’s offense, I believe if you play him full time, he’ll hit 20+ home runs. Granted, he might hit .210 but at this point I would take it. And, he might just figure it out in the process too. Jose Miranda for the Twins was a guy crushing it in the minors, came up & struggled bad, but they stuck with him & he’s turned into a very good player. Like we know what Perez is, but until Joey gets a real full season in, without SF signing a new catcher every week, we really don’t know what he can do
In sink. Ha ha.
#agnes gooch Please stop with the hatred on Bart. He hasn’t been given much of a fair shake at all, by Kapler. Constantly batting him 8th and 9th… He’s a power hitter, who’s probably never been accustomed to hitting in that part of the lineup. Now Farhan is jumping on that, using it as an opportunity to criticize Bart. I think they don’t like him, because he’s such a high draft pick, from the prior regime. Feels to me like they’re sabotaging him.
They used to call him Scary Gary. I thought everyone loves Gary. He’s a loveable loser, in a way.
@Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Only the Yankees’ radio broadcaster John Sterling called him Scary Gary.
Another one his embarrassing, self serving home run call nicknames.
New York can’t wait for that guy to retire. What a clown.
youtube.com/watch?v=_5hK90Itwb8
Is this the guy who yells “See ya” after every Yankees homer?
@cornwhispere
No, that’s the TV guy.
Sterling is the one who says “it is high, it is far… it is gone”… which is bad enough for radio because you have no idea how or where the ball is hit.
But then he goes into a whole nickname shtick that’s just brutal. Listen to these gems:
moiderersrow.com/the-ultimate-list-of-john-sterlin…
you’ll miss him when he’s gone and replaced with a human chatbot
“We do not hate Joey Bart” *curb your enthusiasm theme begins playing*
Last chance for romance for Sanchez. Had such potential but painful to watch the last few years. Hoping he can turn it around
You go Farhan.
release the slaken
No, dude is right, Zaidi sucks! He’s done nothing. Get over the 2021 campaign when we still had Buster. We are a big market team & FZ has brought in the following free agents: Tommy LaStella, Anthony Desclafani, Wilmer Flores, Connor Joe, LaMonte Wade & a few other average to below average veterans. They talked all that crap on how they’re going to spend this last off-season & at the end of the day, our best free agent signing was Mitch Hanniger, who comes with major health concerns. And where does he start the year? On the IR. SF front office has no intention of locking up star players, they will continue to act like they’re in on Harper, Stanton, Judge, & I’m sure Ohtani, but that’s just to keep the fans thinking “they’re trying.” Well try harder. If they really wanted Judge they could’ve made him an offer so lucrative, that the players union would make him take it. SF is so boring to watch, they don’t have 1 bat in the line up that scares their opponent. Zaidi & Kapler GOTTA GO!!!
BondsAway…they were already going to give Judge money that would have been stupid on the back end. No need to increase it just to keep fans from grumbling on trade sites.
It seems like we ALWAYS have one team that gets consistently used as the “other” team in FA negotiations. And that’s been SF lately. Before I believe Philly got caught in that pergotary.
Reality is that any team needs built from an inner core. I’d judge Zaida eventually way more based on his player development capabilities, than his capacity to lure the whims of star free agents.
Judge had every reason to go back to NY.
#BondsAway – You’re absolutely correct, Farhan and Kapler gotta go!
Still better than what the Dead Sox have behind the plate.
This guy get a minor league deal while Joey Gallo gets MLB contracts. Go figure.
Yankees entrails…
Lame. Farhan flailing
Farhan Zaidi… Fartin’ Badly?