Yankees' Surprising Reunion Could Make More Sense Than You Think

A decade ago, Gary Sanchez appeared to be next up in a long line of great New York Yankees catchers. Elston Howard. Thurmon Munson. Mike Stanley. Jorge Posada.

Sanchez?

The Dominican native enjoyed a tremendous 53-game stretch in 2016, slashing .299/.376/.657 with 20 home runs and 42 RBI. The following year, he smashed 33 homers to go along with an .876 OPS and won the Home Run Derby.

Then, the wheels came off.

Sanchez hit just .186 with 18 homers in 89 games in 2018. He did launch 34 long balls the following year, all while batting only .232. After hitting .147 and .204 the next two seasons, respectively, the Yankees gave up on the right-handed slugger.

Sanchez has bounced around ever since, but he now finds himself playing for a Milwaukee Brewers team that is in the World Series.

And when asked whether or not he would entertain a return to the Bronx, the 33-year-old did not entirely rule it out.

The days of Sanchez being a starter are over, but with New York seeking a right-handed bat to platoon with Austin Wells behind the plate, Sanchez could actually represent a cheap, realistic possibility for the Yanks.

Yes, Sanchez only batted .209 this season, but his spectacular 16.7 percent walk rate (by far a career high) resulted in a .349 OBP, and he finished with a .771 OPS courtesy of 12 home runs and 38 RBI over 275 trips to the dish.

We all know that Sanchez is a subpar defensive catcher, but with the Yankees needing some offense behind the plate, the 12-year veteran (man, has it been that long?) could comprise an intriguing target.

Sanchez and the Brewers have a mutual option for 2027, but it seems likely that he will want to take his chances in free agency.

Sanchez has been very up and down throughout his career, and he can be feast or famine at the plate. And I understand that his offensive profile (some power, little contact and lots of strikeouts) goes against what the Yankees need.

But as a backup? I don't see any reason why New York shouldn't at least consider the idea of Sanchez, who, at the very least, offers more pop than Wells. His splits are fairly even, but with Wells struggling so much against left-handers, Sanchez could step in and spell him versus southpaws next spring.

It will be interesting to see if the Yankees do actually pursue a reunion.