Gary Sanchez Gets Major Raise in Settlement Before Arbitration With Yankees
By Sean Facey
Gary Sanchez is finally starting to get paid at least a little bit closer to what he's truly worth.
The standout catcher and the New York Yankees have agreed to a $5 million deal for next season, avoiding arbitration. His salary is the second-highest ever for a catcher in his first year of arbitration eligibility.
Sanchez at 5M is the second highest ever for a 1st time eligible catcher #yankees
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 10, 2020
It's easy to see why he earned such a hefty raise from the organization. Since he broke onto the scene late in 2016, he's been one of the game's best-hitting backstops, posting a 123 wRC+ and .354 wOBA in 372 games.
His 105 home runs since the start of 2016 rank first among all qualified catchers.
But even with the major bump in pay, $5 million is an absolute bargain for the Yankees. A catcher who slugs the ball like Sanchez does is immeasurably valuable.
The Yankees in 2020 are spending a total of $7.475 million for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela! That's pretty damn good
— Jake Repalone (@JakeRepNY) January 10, 2020
It's yet another symbol of the superb player development system the Yankees have created. They've got a sustainable, cost-controlled team that can be a perennial playoff contender thanks to affordable, home-grown players like Sanchez.