Ex-Yankees All-Star Makes Perfect Sense For Red Sox After Latest Unfortunate Injury News
The Boston Red Sox got some unfortunate news Thursday.
Boston took on the Philadelphia Phillies in Grapefruit League action and although they came away with an impressive 15-3 win, catcher Connor Wong suffered a hamstring injury that may make him miss some time.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora announced Friday that Wong suffered a Grade-1 hamstring strain and didn't give a timetable on the 26-year-old's return to the field, according to The Boston Globe's Julian McWilliams.
With Wong dealing a hamstring injury, it leaves the Red Sox with Reese McGuire and Jorge Alfaro. Boston also has Elih Marrero at spring training, but McGuire and Alfaro are the only two aside from Wong seemingly with a chance to make the club's active big league roster.
If Wong were to miss an extended period of time, one free agent who still is available that would make perfect sense for Boston is former New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins slugger Gary Sanchez.
Sanchez began his MLB career with the Yankees in 2015 and spent the first seven years of his career with the club. During his time with New York, Sanchez made two All-Star appearances, won a Silver Slugger Award, and developed into one of if not the best power-hitting catchers in all of baseball.
The 30-year-old was traded to the Twins ahead of the 2022 campaign and clubbed 16 home runs and drove in 61 runs in 128 appearances. Although he has shown he can hit for power, Sanchez has struggled in recent years to make contact unless it was a home run. Sanchez has slashed .202/.295/.427 since the beginning of the 2018 season.
Early in his career Sanchez was viewed as one of the worst defensive catchers in baseball, but over the last few years has improved and was in the middle of the pack defensively in 2022.
McGuire and Alfaro both are solid options for the Red Sox, but adding another veteran with something to prove into the mix certainly wouldn't hurt if Wong is out for an extended period of time. Boston's lineup could use a little extra pop, which Sanchez certainly could provide.
At this point in the offseason the Red Sox even be able to sign Sanchez to a minor league contract like Alfaro so it wouldn't cost Boston much at all. Boston likely will roll with McGuire and Alfaro on Opening Day unless Wong is able to return soon but it wouldn't hurt to add another piece to the competition.
More MLB: Ex-Red Sox Hurler Shines For Yankees Again As He Looks To Battle For Roster Spot
