Blue Jays sign Tony Sanchez to minor-league deal

The Toronto Blue Jays have added another catcher to their list of non-roster players invited to Dunedin, Fla., for spring training, agreeing Friday to a minor-league deal with former first-round pick Tony Sanchez.

Sanchez, who designated for assignment by the Pirates last month, logged just 51 games over parts of three seasons with Pittsburgh after being selected fourth overall by the club in 2009. The 28-year-old owns a .681 OPS with four homers and a 29 percent strikeout rate in 155 plate appearances since making his MLB debut three years ago, and appeared in just three games for the Pirates last season.

Over parts of four seasons in the Triple-A International League, though, Sanchez compiled a .758 OPS in 313 games, providing Toronto with another option behind the plate other than incumbent backup Josh Thole should Russell Martin get hurt. (Considering Thole's longstanding relationship with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, Sanchez appears unlikely to supplant him as the backup on the 25-man roster.)