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Former Yankees Bust Linked to Padres in Recent Trade Prediction

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 12:46 PM ET

Veteran MLB catcher Gary Sánchez could be returning to a familiar home ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.

No, New York Yankees fans don't need to worry about seeing Sánchez in pinstripes again. Instead, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal predicted the San Diego Padres could reunite with the 32-year-old backstop, who spent time with the Padres two years ago.

"No matter how much they talk about how Elias Díaz and Martín Maldonado excel on the defensive side, they would like to upgrade offensively," Rosenthal wrote of the Padres' catching situation.

Rosenthal said the Orioles "could make ... Sánchez available" when their catchers get healthier. Baltimore recently placed three catchers on the injured list.

Sánchez impressed during his brief Padres stint, mashing 19 home runs with a .792 OPS over 260 plate appearances in 2023. He finished ninth on the club in bWAR (2.3) and parlayed that into a one-year, $7.5 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Baltimore subsequently signed Sánchez to a one-year, $8.5 million contract last December. He owns a .247 average, five homers, 24 RBIs, and a .763 OPS in 95 plate appearances.

Sánchez does not have a no-trade clause in his contract.

Sánchez is a lifetime .247 hitter with 189 home runs and a .772 OPS across 11 seasons. Although he's hit .178 in the playoffs, Sánchez has also hit seven homers over 33 postseason games.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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