Gary Sanchez will certainly be a Milwaukee Brewer.
The free agent catcher is close to finalizing his deal, about two weeks after reaching an agreement with the club on a one-year, $7 million contract, according to a person briefed on the negotiations.
The Brewers had concerns about the condition of Sanchez’s right wrist after a physical. Major League Baseball officials said he will accept a base salary of $3 million with incentives that could earn him his original $7 million if he stays healthy. His original contract also included a mutual option for 2025.
Sanchez, 31, agreed to terms with the Brewers on February 7th. All free agent contracts are pending physical review, and restructuring may occur if problems arise.
The Los Angeles Dodgers experienced a similar situation earlier this month with left-hander James Paxton, reducing his salary from $11 million to $7 million and changing his bonus structure. Paxton later said he was concerned about the combination of Tommy John surgery that sidelined the Dodgers for almost two seasons and a right knee injury that prematurely ended his 2023 season with the Boston Red Sox.
Sanchez, who plays for the San Diego Padres, suffered a season-ending right wrist fracture on September 6 of last year when he was hit by a 98 mph fastball from Jeff Hoffman of the Philadelphia Phillies.
He made a comeback with the Padres, batting only .218 but hitting 19 home runs and posting a .792 OPS in 260 at-bats. He also found success in a battery with left-hander Blake Snell, who eventually won the National League Cy Young Award. Starting 18 consecutive games with Sanchez at catcher, Snell pitched 105 innings with a 1.29 ERA.
The Brewers are expected to use Sanchez as the primary backup to catcher William Contreras and also as the DH. They intend to retain another catcher, Eric Haas, who signed a one-year, $1 million free agent contract on Dec. 20, according to league sources.
Sanchez’s addition continues a busy five weeks in which the team acquired free agent first baseman Rhys Hoskins on a two-year, $34 million contract and right-hander Jacob Junis on a one-year, $7 million contract. As first reported by the New York Post, the Brewers also Reached agreement with right-hander Brandon Woodruff. It’s a two-year contract, pending a physical exam.
With these moves, plus the addition of shortstop Joey Ortiz and left-handed DL Hall in a trade with the Orioles for ace right-hander Corbin Burnes, club officials are confident they can compete in the National League Central division again. are doing.
“We’re hopeful that we can win this year, and we’ve got a lot of young players who will have a real chance to shine in the major leagues for the first time,” owner Mark Attanasio said at a news conference Tuesday. “Let’s see who gets that chance.”
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(Top photo of Gary Sanchez: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
