Orioles sign Gary Sanchez — 1-year, $8.5M

[WhiteSox2023]

 

[Sambuca]

What does Gary Sanchez provide? Can he still play behind the plate? 

[Chicago White Sox]

The Orioles just spent $25M/year on O’Neil & Sanchez.  They got a weak-side corner OF platoon guy and a backup catcher.  And this is despite a massive need in the rotation.  No idea what the f*** Elias is doing, but I do hope a few of those Orioles fans at The Hangout are fuming (just the couple douchy ones).

Also, just because I find it amusing, Austin Slater got 10% of the AAV that O’Neil just got and yet from 2020 to 2023 he had a higher wRC+ against LHP (140 vs. 130).  Don’t get me wrong, O’Neil is the better player and is coming off an elite season against LHP, but it does highlight why Slater at $1.75M was a very smart scrap heap signing for us.

[caulfield12]

Sanchez and Danny Jansen both at $8.5 million…not even part-time/platoon catchers are affordable to the Sox anymore.

Stassi was the best they could afford, and he had already broken down.

 

[Chicago White Sox]

13 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Sanchez and Danny Jansen both at $8.5 million…not even part-time/platoon catchers are affordable to the Sox anymore.

Stassi was the best they could afford, and he had already broken down.

 

Which is why you use this season on guys like Lenyn Sosa.  He put up a 116 wRC+ against LHP last year…can he repeat that?  Who fucking knows, but if he can, he’s suddenly a very valuable bench piece if this s%*# is the going rate.

[caulfield12]

44 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Which is why you use this season on guys like Lenyn Sosa.  He put up a 116 wRC+ against LHP last year…can he repeat that?  Who fucking knows, but if he can, he’s suddenly a very valuable bench piece if this s%*# is the going rate.

The biggest problem is that he’s a below average middle infielder, specifically, 2B.  If you’re going to be a net negative offensive player, you need to at least balance it out and then some on the defensive side of the ledger.

[Chicago White Sox]

3 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

The biggest problem is that he’s a below average middle infielder, specifically, 2B.  If you’re going to be a net negative offensive player, you need to at least balance it out and then some on the defensive side of the ledger.

What’s weird is Sosa never had that reputation in the minors.  Physically limited perhaps when playing SS, but I always interpreted scouting reports on him to suggest he’d be a very solid defensive 2B.  I’m willing to give him more time and see what happens.  It’s not like he’s blocking anyone at the moment.

[caulfield12]

10 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

What’s weird is Sosa never had that reputation in the minors.  Physically limited perhaps when playing SS, but I always interpreted scouting reports on him to suggest he’d be a very solid defensive 2B.  I’m willing to give him more time and see what happens.  It’s not like he’s blocking anyone at the moment.

In theory he’s blocking Baldwin, because Brooks definitely is lacking the arm and likely the range for SS.

Then you have Vargas at 3B or 2B as likely his two best spots…if not one of those two, probably LF.

[Bob Sacamano]

13 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

In theory he’s blocking Baldwin, because Brooks definitely is lacking the arm and likely the range for SS.

Then you have Vargas at 3B or 2B as likely his two best spots…if not one of those two, probably LF.

I would have non-tendered Vaughn and just plugged Vargas at 1B.

[caulfield12]

4 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

I would have non-tendered Vaughn and just plugged Vargas at 1B.

Just such a small target, not that Vaughn is big…and they still have to fit Ramos in there somewhere with Montgomery more likely than not destined for 3B.

[Chicago White Sox]

17 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

In theory he’s blocking Baldwin, because Brooks definitely is lacking the arm and likely the range for SS.

Then you have Vargas at 3B or 2B as likely his two best spots…if not one of those two, probably LF.

We aren’t winning anytime soon.  Baldwin can play SS until Montgomery or whomever we get in a Crochet trade is ready.  If Brooks performs well with the bat, then he slides over to 2B.  If Sosa is also performing, then we have a really good problem.  I’ll worry about that issue when both of those things happen.

The Vargas issue is different because he doesn’t really fit anywhere.  He has the tools to play at multiple spots (3B, 2B, LF, RF) but he lacks the skill to be good at any of them, at least the moment.  And for 1B / DH, he doesn’t have the power you’d want to see out of that spot even if his hit tool returns to form.  I am not giving up on him yet, but he’s a really frustrating player to plan around.

[Timmy U]

I would definitely give Sosa at bats somewhere. He went to winter ball to work on playing shortstop. It is the position he feels best at. Kind of a menace everywhere else. He crushed that league, but hard to read too much into that. The last month of the season, Sosa was one of their best players. SSS and all that, but he was at least good in AAA. I want Sosa, Baldwin, Ramos, and I suppose Vargas to play. Sosa or Vargas at DH. Baldwin could do multiple positions. OTOH, I am very skeptical about Fletcher’s ability to hit. He is an excellent defensive right fielder, but iffy in center. I am intrigued by DeLoach because he was quite good in AAA, but 26 year old 4A players rarely make the leap to cromulent regular. I love Colas’ tools and he can play 1b, but Fuller has a lot of work to do on his swing decisions. Will be interesting to see if they get even one mlb-ready player for Crochet. I wouldn’t bet on it. I think they are prizing ceiling over proximity.

[Chicago White Sox]

5 minutes ago, Timmy U said:

I would definitely give Sosa at bats somewhere. He went to winter ball to work on playing shortstop. It is the position he feels best at. Kind of a menace everywhere else. He crushed that league, but hard to read too much into that. The last month of the season, Sosa was one of their best players. SSS and all that, but he was at least good in AAA. I want Sosa, Baldwin, Ramos, and I suppose Vargas to play. Sosa or Vargas at DH. Baldwin could do multiple positions. OTOH, I am very skeptical about Fletcher’s ability to hit. He is an excellent defensive right fielder, but iffy in center. I am intrigued by DeLoach because he was quite good in AAA, but 26 year old 4A players rarely make the leap to cromulent regular. I love Colas’ tools and he can play 1b, but Fuller has a lot of work to do on his swing decisions. Will be interesting to see if they get even one mlb-ready player for Crochet. I wouldn’t bet on it. I think they are prizing ceiling over proximity.

Great post.

Regarding the bolded, I think they will get at least one near ready prospect to headline any trade.  They may not be ready by OD, but someone with a 2025 ETA of some sorts.  I could see the rest of a trade be lower level, but higher ceiling guys, but I can’t imagine they don’t get at least one more advanced prospect in return.

[GreenSox]

6 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

The Orioles just spent $25M/year on O’Neil & Sanchez.  They got a weak-side corner OF platoon guy and a backup catcher.  And this is despite a massive need in the rotation.  No idea what the f*** Elias is doing, but I do hope a few of those Orioles fans at The Hangout are fuming (just the couple douchy ones).

Also, just because I find it amusing, Austin Slater got 10% of the AAV that O’Neil just got and yet from 2020 to 2023 he had a higher wRC+ against LHP (140 vs. 130).  Don’t get me wrong, O’Neil is the better player and is coming off an elite season against LHP, but it does highlight why Slater at $1.75M was a very smart scrap heap signing for us.

Sanchez and O'Neil hit homers.  Discernable production.  Both contracts are reasonable to me; but I consider contract duration as a factor.  Lower cost Santander.

Slater is hurt by recency (really bad last year) which also inflates O'Neil.  I didn't realize we signed him - good move.

Orioles should trade for pitching - they really don't have anymore top prospects to hug, so maybe they will be willing to deal in volume and find a receptive team.