Sánchez ready to embrace any role in Brewers' lineup

PHOENIX -- Veteran catcher Gary Sánchez reported to Brewers’ camp Thursday after clearing the medical hurdles that delayed his official signing.

Sánchez, who underwent an eight-week rehabilitation process after suffering a fractured right wrist when he was hit by a pitch last September, said he sustained a different hand injury while working out during the offseason.

The Brewers sought a second opinion before finalizing his deal. According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, the deal is worth $7 million and contains an option for 2025. Catcher Austin Nola was released to make room on the 40-man roster.

“I felt comfortable and confident that we would be able to get a deal done, and fortunately we were able to do so,” Sánchez said through interpreter Daniel de Mondesert. “I had completely recovered from the hit by pitch. It had nothing to do with what is going on now.”

Sánchez has been cleared to begin baseball activity, but he will be given time to ramp up, manager Pat Murphy said. Asked if Sánchez might not be ready for Opening Day, Murphy said, “We hope not.”

"Gary Sánchez brings an experienced right-handed power bat to our lineup," Brewers general manager Matt Arnold said. "He will be a great complement behind the plate to William Contreras and also a valuable asset in the designated hitter role. We are excited to have him in Milwaukee.”

The Brewers already boast a star at catcher in reigning Silver Slugger Award winner Contreras, so the addition of Sánchez gives the club a powerful 1-2 punch behind the plate with the potential for either to see time at DH.

Milwaukee had been seeking another option at the designated hitter spot after several position players became free agents, a list that includes Carlos Santana, Josh Donaldson, Rowdy Tellez and Mark Canha.

“This was always a playoff team, a team that was fighting at the very end,” Sánchez said. “I like the way these guys fight, these guys compete. Me, too. That’s what I like to do.

“Whatever job is given to me, I’m going to do the best that I can to compete and give the best of myself.”

Left-handed-hitting Jake Bauers, who was acquired earlier this offseason from the Yankees via trade, profiled as the Brewers’ primary DH going into Spring Training. Now, it seems that Bauers and Sánchez could form a platoon at DH, with the recently signed Rhys Hoskins playing first base every day.

Sánchez could also fill in behind the plate for Contreras regularly, giving Murphy plenty of lineup and matchup options.

Sánchez enjoyed a resurgence in 2023, though the season started off tumultuously. He signed late with the Giants in April and opened the season at Triple-A Sacramento before being released on May 2. Sánchez then signed with the Mets, but his tenure in New York lasted only three games before being designated for assignment.

On May 29, the Padres claimed him off waivers, and in San Diego, Sánchez found more consistent playing time and produced more than he had in years. Across 72 games, Sánchez hit 19 homers with a .792 OPS before a right wrist fracture in early September ended his season.

A two-time All-Star with the Yankees in 2017 and '19, Sánchez averaged 26 homers and posted a .847 OPS from '16-19 as New York’s primary backstop. A dip in offensive production (.681 OPS from 2020-22) and defensive issues led to a trade in March '22 to the Twins.

Sánchez spent one semi-productive season in Minnesota (16 homers, .659 OPS, 1.3 fWAR) before bouncing from San Francisco to New York to San Diego last summer.

In nine big league seasons, Sánchez is a career .225/.309/.469 hitter with 173 home runs and 109 OPS+. Though Sánchez has been viewed as a poor defensive catcher, he was worth two Catcher Framing Runs and two Catcher Stealing Runs across 526 2/3 innings in 2023. Combine those metrics with his 1.90-second pop time (86th percentile and tied for his career best) and Sánchez enjoyed one of the best defensive seasons of his career.