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Giants agree to minor-league deal with Gary Sanchez

Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The San Francisco Giants signed two-time All-Star catcher Gary Sanchez to a minor-league deal, the club announced Saturday.

Sanchez can opt out of the deal if he's not in the majors by May 1, Rosenthal reports. He'll initially report to the Giants' spring complex in Arizona and join one of their affiliates at a later date.

The pact will pay Sanchez $4 million if he reaches the majors, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Sanchez, known primarily for his seven seasons with the New York Yankees, played for the Minnesota Twins in 2022. The 30-year-old hit .205/.282/.377 with 16 home runs and 61 RBIs over 128 games with Minnesota, splitting time between catcher and designated hitter. While not known for his glove, Sanchez had one of his better defensive seasons in 2022, recording one defensive run saved while allowing a career-low four passed balls.

The Twins did not attempt to re-sign Sanchez when he became a free agent in November. He represented the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic while still looking for a big-league job and went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts and one walk in two games.

Sanchez will be trying to crack a San Francisco squad that has some depth issues at catcher. The team is only carrying two backstops - veteran Roberto Perez and former top prospect Joey Bart - on its 40-man roster. Perez started behind the plate on Opening Day, with Bart backing him up.

Sanchez burst onto the scene with the Yankees in 2016, finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting after hitting 20 home runs over the final two months of the season. He went on to post a pair of 30-homer campaigns for the Bronx Bombers, including a Silver Slugger-winning campaign in 2017, but his powerful bat was often offset by inconsistency and defensive struggles.

In 666 big-league games, Sanchez owns a lifetime .225/.311/.467 slash line with 154 home runs and 401 RBIs.

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