Padres Insider Addresses How Gary Sanchez Will Fit with Friars
The San Diego Padres made a significant addition to their catcher position yesterday by acquiring former All-Star catcher Gary Sanchez. At first glance, Sanchez appears to be an upgrade compared to the Padres' previous options behind the plate. The team already boasts superstar players in various positions, but they were lacking a strong presence at catcher. On Tuesday, Sanchez will make his first start with the team in a three-game series against the Miami Marlins on the road.
Sanchez could shine in a role with the Padres, but what will it look like? Padres insider AJ Cassavell had the opportunity to speak to Friras President of Baseball Operations, A.J. Preller. Preller emphasized that they will take a game-by-game approach to see how Sanchez fits in with the team.
"We're not going into this with anybody playing 'X' number of days or anybody as the backup," Preller said. "The game and the players will dictate that, and we'll let [Padres manager Bob Melvin] have the ability to make some of those decisions with our catching."
This cautious approach suggests that the Padres want to evaluate Sanchez's performance and chemistry with the team before making any long-term decisions.
Sanchez was a force to be reckoned with when he was a member of the New York Yankees. He was widely regarded as one of the best catchers in the game and even earned a Silver Slugger Award for his impressive offensive abilities. Now those days seem long gone, but Sanchez will have the opportunity to find his groove in San Diego. Both the Padres and Sanchez are hoping that this new partnership will be a success.
The Padres have a solid roster and high expectations, so the pressure will be on for Sanchez to deliver. The whole pressure is not only on Sanchez but on the front office as they hope to have found their catcher instead of trading for one by the trade deadline.
