Blue Jays ink catcher Sanchez to Minors deal
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The Blue Jays added catching depth on Friday, signing former Pirates first-round Draft pick Tony Sanchez to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.
Pittsburgh made Sanchez the fourth overall selection in the 2009 Draft, out of Boston College. But Sanchez has never established himself in the Majors, playing in 51 games for the Bucs from 2013-15, including only three last year. The right-handed batter hit a combined .259/.303/.378 with four home runs and 18 RBIs, while throwing out 5 of 30 basestealers (17 percent).
Sanchez spent most of 2015 at Triple-A Indianapolis, posting a .236/.342/.342 line with three homers and 47 RBIs over 94 games. The Pirates designated him for assignment and ultimately released him in January.
Toronto has catchers Russell Martin, Josh Thole and A.J. Jimenez on its 40-man roster, with veteran Humberto Quintero already among the non-roster invitees at the position.