NEW YORK — He has bounced from coast to coast. He has worn five different big league uniforms. And now Ali Sanchez gets another shot. This time with the New York Yankees.
The club announced the signing of the 28-year-old Venezuelan catcher to a minor league contract on Sunday. The deal includes an invitation to major league spring training in Tampa.
Sanchez joins a franchise in the middle of a busy offseason. The Yankees are still chasing Cody Bellinger in free agency while adding depth pieces throughout the roster. This move addresses a specific need behind the plate.
But who exactly is Ali Sanchez? And why does a catcher with a .183 career batting average keep getting chances at the highest level?
A journeyman backstop with defensive chops
Sanchez first signed as an international free agent with the Mets back in 2013. He was just 16 years old. Born in Carora, Venezuela, he spent seven years climbing through New York’s minor league system.
His MLB debut came on August 10, 2020. He appeared in five games for the Mets that season. The bat never caught fire. He went 1-for-9 in his rookie campaign.
Since then, Sanchez has suited up for the St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox. He has been designated for assignment more times than most players can count. Yet teams keep calling.
The reason is simple. Sanchez can catch. He threw out 53.3 percent of attempted base stealers while with Triple-A Memphis in 2022. That kind of arm strength gets attention.
The numbers behind the nomadic career
In 50 career MLB games, Sanchez owns a .183/.220/.233 slash line. He has zero home runs at the big league level. His .454 OPS tells the story of a player who struggles against major league pitching.
The 2025 season was particularly chaotic. Sanchez played for the Blue Jays twice. He got claimed by Boston. He returned to the Mets organization briefly. Then Boston traded for him again. All in the span of four months.
He appeared in 12 MLB games this past season. Eight came with Toronto. Four came with the Red Sox. He batted .217 across those appearances.
The minor league numbers paint a different picture. Sanchez hit .274/.336/.411 in 57 Triple-A games in 2025 between the Mets and Blue Jays affiliates. He showed legitimate pop with six home runs at that level.
Where Sanchez fits in the Yankees depth chart
Austin Wells owns the starting catcher job. That much is clear. The left-handed hitting backstop has been worth 3 WAR in each of the last two seasons. His defense ranks among the best in baseball.
J.C. Escarra projects as the primary backup. That leaves Sanchez as the third option. His path to the Opening Day roster is narrow at best.
More likely, Sanchez will provide catching depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees lack right-handed hitting catchers in their system. Sanchez fills that void.
Injuries happen. They happen a lot to catchers. When they do, the Yankees will have Sanchez ready to step in. That kind of insurance matters over 162 games.
The bigger picture in the Bronx this winter
This signing represents one small piece of a larger puzzle. Brian Cashman continues to add organizational depth while pursuing bigger fish.
Bellinger remains the top target in free agency. The former MVP hit 29 home runs with an .813 OPS for New York in 2025. He opted out of his contract seeking a longer deal. The Yankees want him back.
Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai also sits on the radar. The Yankees need rotation help with Gerrit Cole recovering from Tommy John surgery and Carlos Rodon working back from injury.
Kyle Tucker presents another intriguing option. The free agent outfielder could command upwards of $350 million on the open market. If the Yankees miss on Bellinger, Tucker makes sense as a fallback plan.
Sanchez brings experience and intangibles
There is something to be said for a player who refuses to quit. Sanchez has been designated for assignment repeatedly. He has cleared waivers multiple times. He has elected free agency and come right back.
That resilience matters in a clubhouse. Younger catchers in the system can learn from his approach. The game values players who stick around despite the odds.
Sanchez also brings familiarity with the AL East. He spent time with both the Blue Jays and Red Sox in 2025. He knows the division. He knows the pitchers. He knows the ballparks.
At Triple-A Buffalo, he slashed .279/.347/.419 with six home runs over 199 plate appearances. That production suggests the bat might be rounding into form at the right time.
The low-risk gamble that could pay off
Minor league deals carry minimal risk. The Yankees commit nothing guaranteed. If Sanchez impresses in spring training, he earns a roster spot. If not, he heads to the minors without any financial burden.
Sanchez turns 29 on January 20. He is entering what should be his prime years. A strong spring could change everything for the Venezuelan backstop.
The Yankees also signed infielder Zack Short to a minor league deal on the same day. Both players will compete for roster spots in Tampa. Both represent the kind of depth moves that separate good organizations from great ones.
For Sanchez, this is another chance. Perhaps his best one yet. Playing for the Yankees carries weight that other organizations simply cannot match. If he finally puts it all together, the Bronx could become his home.
Until then, the journeyman catcher will keep grinding. Five teams in five years taught him that much. Now team number six awaits. And this time, it wears pinstripes.
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