New York Yankees Demote Top Prospect Gary Sanchez

By Kenneth Teape | Mar 25, 2016

Mar 6, 2016; Clearwater, FL, USA; New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (72) looks on in the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The New York Yankees have decided to move on from top prospect Gary Sanchez, demoting the catcher to Triple-A camp on Thursday.

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The New York Yankees looked poised to give the backup catcher job to top prospect Gary Sanchez this spring. Despite the shortcomings that he still has behind the plate, the Yankees were ready for Sanchez to move into a role with the major league team.

With last season’s backup catcher John Ryan Murphy being traded this offseason to the Minnesota Twins for outfielder Aaron Hicks, the role was wide open. It was one that Sanchez had the inside track to, but ultimately he fell short of expectations.

Not only will Sanchez not get the backup catching job behind starter Brian McCann, Sanchez will not even make it through the remainder of the spring with the major league team. His chances of landing the backup catching job that looked to be his was officially ended Thursday when he was cut and reassigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

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Sanchez did nothing to help his case with his play on the field. Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi believed that Sanchez could have been pressing a little bit, as the pressure of making his first 25-man roster weighed heavily on him. Sanchez is known as a strong hitter, but that was no on display this spring; Sanchez went only 1-of-21 at the plate, which is as big a reason as any for the demotion.

Another reason for the demotion is because the Yankees want to delay his service time. The Yankees can delay Sanchez’s free agency by a year if they hold him in the minors for at least 35 days to start the season. There is a good chance that now happens, but the fact he performed so poorly at the plate can be used as a reason for the demotion, as delaying free agency is usually frowned upon.

With Sanchez now out of the running for the backup catching spot, the battle will come down to two players; Austin Romine and Carlos Corporan. Romine is a home grown talent for the Yankees, and has a solid spring. He is hitting .273 with four doubles, while displaying his customary strong defense. Corporan has not played as well this spring, batting only .190 at the plate, but he has more experience as a backup catcher at the major league level.

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Right now the edge would probably go to Romine, as he is someone that the Yankees are comfortable having around. But, do not yet count out Corporan, as he has the power and experience to land a spot on the Yankees bench.

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