Mets give two-time All-Star latest chance on minors deal

Sanchez joined the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 2009 at just 16 years old and made his major league debut with two games in October 2015. He spent his first seven big league seasons in the Bronx, finishing as the AL Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2016 and having arguably his best season in 2017 with 33 home runs, 90 RBI, a Silver Slugger Award and his first All-Star nod.

Sanchez was traded from the Yankees to the Minnesota Twins in March 2022 and after one season with the AL Central club, signed with the San Francisco Giants in April. Sanchez was released by the Giants last week after going just 9-for-55 with 0 home runs and eight RBI across 16 games with the team's Triple-A affiliate.

Mets offseason acquisition Omar Narvaez entered the year as the starting catcher but suffered a calf strain in the opening week of the campaign, an ailment that is expected to keep him sidelined into June. Since then, highly touted prospect Francisco Alvarez and Tomas Nido have been splitting time behind the plate, but both have struggled offensively.

Alvarez is 11-for-50 with one home run and four RBI while Nido is 6-for-51 with 0 home runs and one RBI.

Though he's never going to contribute much in terms of batting average (a career .225 hitter), Sanchez is only one season removed from posting 16 home runs and 61 RBI and it's only been two years since he hit 23 dingers.

If Sanchez were to get another chance at the big-league level, he'd likely see some time as the designated hitter as well, as he's thought to be one of the poorest defensive catchers in baseball. Sanchez led the league in errors committed by a catcher three times (2017, 2019, 2020) and passed balls three times (2017, 2018, 2020).

Perhaps now that Sanchez is headed back to the Empire State, he can recapture some of the magic he showcased during his All-Star seasons in 2017 and 2019 with the Yankees.