Yankees future starts now with prospect Gary Sanchez called up after deadline sales
Sanchez figures to see time behind the dish and at DH
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1 min read
Perhaps Aug. 2 should be known as top prospect liberation day. First the Red Sox summoned Andrew Benintendi, then the Brewers promoted Orlando Arcia, and now the Yankees are calling forth Gary Sanchez.
#Yankees expected to promote Gary Sanchez tmrw and start v. LH Matz, probably as DH. #Mets.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 2, 2016
Here are three things you need to know about this promotion.
1. Sanchez is a polarizing prospect
Originally signed from the Dominican Republic for $3 million, Sanchez has spent the past half decade being dissected by scouts, prospect experts and fans alike. As a result, there are different lines of thinking on how good he can become.
To his credit, Sanchez has retained his near-elite arm strength and the plus power potential that makes him a tantalizing prospect to those who believe he can get by at catcher. On the debit side, not everyone is convinced he can catch, and his below-average hit tool could cap his power production -- not to mention his ability to reach base at a great clip. On the whole, there's enough here for MLB.com to rank him No. 5 in a much-improved system, but the validity of that placement will vary by person.
2. A few Yankees veterans will be impacted
The big question with Sanchez's promotion is how Joe Girardi will work him into the lineup. Sanchez should, in theory, see most of his time behind the plate. Yet if Sanchez is the most-days starting catcher, then where does that leave Brian McCann? Presumably at DH or first base, which in turn limits the playing time available to Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira -- both of whom are potential release candidates, per past rumors. Rodriguez, for his part, appears safe:
#Yankees not planning on waiving A-Rod to promote Sanchez but could further impact playing time with Sanchez and McCann DHing more
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 2, 2016
Of course, while working everything out seems like a headache, this is a positive development for the Yankees. Neither Teixeira nor Rodriguez have produced, and it's past time to see what Sanchez can or can't do against big-league pitching. Otherwise, what's the point of the youth movement? Speaking of ...
3. Sanchez won't be New York's only promotion
The Yankees are indeed starting a youth movement, with several other planned promotions in store:
Over next month, thru Sept 1 call up, #Yankees plan to promote Sanchez, Austin, Judge and newly acquired rlvr Ben Heller
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 2, 2016
Safe to say, it's a new day in New York -- one where you might need a program to figure out who's who.
