New York Yankees: Why 2019 is a make or break year for the Yanks

Yanks might ride or die behind The Kraken

Gary Sanchez has a great bat, and can throw runners out from his knees all day, but is this worth the constant passed balls?

Sanchez is one of the best catchers in the league when it comes to throwing runners out, but he is one of the worst catchers in the league when it comes to keeping the ball in front of him.

Sanchez is horrible when it comes to keeping the ball in front of him, and if he can’t do that then he doesn’t have much of a place in the MLB being a catcher. If he can’t improve when it comes to keeping the ball in front of him this season, the Yankees will have a tough decision to make.

In both 2017 and 2018, Sanchez was first in the league when it comes to most passed balls as a catcher. In 2017 he had 16 and in 2018 he had 18, making him statistically one of the worst catchers in the league.

However, Sanchez ranked fifth in double plays turned by a catcher in 2018 and most times caught stealing in 2017. This being said Sanchez has a lot of ups and downs in his game, but the question is still relevant, are the cons worth the pros.

This is a question that Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman have to seriously think about and decide if maybe a move to DH for the catcher may be a good idea. Now before you head to the comments and bash this idea, hear me out.

This is potentially Brett Gardner‘s last year in pinstripes despite the leadership he provides. This being said, the Yankees will have an open slot in left field. That spot could be given to Giancarlo Stanton, who plays right field but if he was taught how to play left, could most definitely make the switch.

With that, you have the open spot at DH with Clint Frazier now being the backup outfielder. You move Gary Sanchez to DH so you can avoid the constant passed balls, assuming he doesn’t get out of the top five in 2019.

With that you open room at catcher and can either sign a free agent catcher or you can make a trade for one.

This all can be avoided though if the Yankees see significant improvement in Sanchez this upcoming season, but if it’s more of the same it may not be worth it to have a catcher who struggles to keep the ball in front of him.