The Yankees’ catching situation just got a little more crowded - and a little more right-handed.
While the headlines this offseason have largely focused on big-ticket moves and lineup shakeups, New York made a quieter addition last week that could prove meaningful in the margins. The club signed veteran catcher Ali Sanchez to a minor league deal, with an expected invitation to Major League spring training.
Now, let’s be clear: this isn’t a blockbuster. But it is a calculated depth play by a team that currently has three left-handed-hitting catchers on its 40-man roster - Austin Wells, Ben Rice, and **J.C.
Escarra**. That kind of redundancy can be tricky to manage, especially when none of the three are proven long-term options behind the plate just yet.
Sanchez, a right-handed hitter with solid defensive chops, gives the Yankees a different look and a bit of roster flexibility.
Who is Ali Sanchez?
Sanchez, who turns 29 in January, has bounced around the league in recent years. He appeared in 12 games during the 2025 season - eight with the Blue Jays and four with the Red Sox - and originally broke into the majors with the Mets back in 2020. Once considered a promising defensive prospect (he was ranked the Mets’ No. 20 prospect by MLB Pipeline in 2020), Sanchez has yet to carve out a consistent role at the big league level.
Offensively, the numbers haven’t been kind. In 133 career plate appearances across 50 MLB games, Sanchez has slashed just .183/.220/.233 with no home runs and a .454 OPS.
That’s not going to turn heads. But his value lies more in his glove and his ability to handle a pitching staff - traits that still matter, especially in a backup or emergency role.
What does this mean for the Yankees?
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Sanchez is a long shot to make the Opening Day roster. Barring an injury or a major surprise in camp, he’s likely ticketed for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he’ll serve as experienced depth behind the plate.
But this is the kind of move that contending teams make to protect themselves over a long season. Catching injuries happen, and when they do, having someone like Sanchez - who’s been around the block and knows how to manage a game - can be a quiet but important insurance policy.
There’s also a bit of strategy in play here. With Wells, Rice, and Escarra all swinging from the left side, the Yankees could be looking to balance out their options. If they decide to carry a lefty-righty catching tandem, Sanchez could at least be in the conversation - especially if he impresses defensively during spring training.
Bottom line
This isn’t the kind of move that dominates the back pages, but it’s a smart, low-risk addition for the Yankees. Ali Sanchez brings defensive experience, a right-handed bat, and organizational depth at a position that’s always in demand.
He may not be in the Bronx on Opening Day, but don’t be surprised if he finds his way into the mix at some point in 2025. For now, he’s got a shot to show what he can do in Tampa come spring - and in a sport where opportunity can knock at any moment, that’s all a player like Sanchez needs.