Top Landing Spots for Free Agent Gary Sánchez

New York Yankees

Perhaps a return to where it all began is in the cards for Sánchez, who signed as an international free agent with the Yankees and spent the first six years of his big-league career in the Bronx. Obviously, there is a sense of familiarity here for both parties.

Austin Wells, a lefty batter, is the everyday catcher for New York, but they could use another catching option off the bench.

As it currently stands, J.C. Escarra is the primary backup option to wells. While his positional versatility was useful for the Yankees last season, adding more pop to the bench could go a long way. Besides, Escarra does have two options remaining, meaning this wouldn’t be the end of his time in New York if they brought Sánchez in on a one-year deal.

With Ben Rice transitioning to a larger role at first base, there are open reps at catcher behind Wells. The addition of a righty bat would create a more balanced catching tandem.

Sánchez isn’t a lefty masher per se, as he’s historically hit lefties about as well as he’s hit righties throughout his career (110 wRC+ against lefties, 107 wRC+ against righties). However, while Wells did take a step forward against southpaws last season, he does own an 80 wRC+ against lefties in his career as opposed to a 106 wRC+ against righties. Sánchez could help spell some of those reps against lefties.

The Yankees’ bench lacks pop, and that’s exactly what Sánchez would bring to the table.

San Diego Padres

Another reunion spot for Sánchez, the San Diego Padres claimed the catcher off of waivers back in 2023 and Sánchez posted some of the best results of the past half decade with the Friars.

In 72 games with the Padres in 2023, Sánchez hit 19 homers to go with nine doubles, yielding an impressive isolate power (ISO) of .282 and a .500 slugging percentage. He posted a .329 wOBA that season, which is his highest mark since his All-Star campaign with the Yankees back in 2019.

Point being, he clearly thrived in the notoriously pitcher-friendly Petco Park. It has to be comforting for Sánchez to know he already had success there, and it makes it easier for San Diego to bring in a player they already saw succeed in their ballpark.

Per RosterResource, Freddy Fermin is the starting catcher heading into 2026. Fermin, whom the Padres acquired from the Kansas City Royals at last year’s trade deadline, is a stellar defensive catcher but posted just a 77 wRC+ in 2025, including a .617 OPS in 42 games with the Padres.

Sánchez gives them a bit more firepower at the position and can also get reps at DH, a spot that is currently occupied by Tirso Ornelas. For an organization that will likely be on a strict budget this winter, Sánchez won’t command a long-term commitment, and his deal shouldn’t push into eight figures. It’s a pairing that makes a lot of sense for both sides.

Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers feel like a good fit for Sánchez for multiple reasons. For starters, as was the case with the Padres, they’re an organization that isn’t going to be looking to expand payroll in 2026 yet still want to remain competitive. Sánchez will be in their budget and gives them an upgrade over some of the options they currently have on the roster.

After Jonah Heim was non-tenderer, Kyle Higashioka slots in as the starting catcher heading into 2026. Higashioka, 35, posted a 93 wRC+ in his first year with the Rangers in 2025 and has just one season with an above-average wRC+ in his last five seasons (104 in 2024).

Backing him up is Willie MacIver, whom the Rangers recently claimed off waivers from the Athletics but has two option years remaining.

This is an area on the roster that could be enhanced, and Sánchez would bring some pop to a lineup that is looking for a bounce-back year in 2026. While it’s not exactly ideal that both Sánchez and Higashioka are right-handed hitters, Sánchez has a 107 wRC+ against righties throughout his career whereas Higashioka’s mark sits at just 80, albeit with improvement against righties in 2024 and 2025.

Still, Higashioka’s 94 games played in 2025 was a career high. Whether or not he can be an everyday catcher for a team looking to get back to the postseason is yet to be seen, but adding another option with Sánchez’s experience and power upside could go a long way for their depth.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been the talk of the town this offseason, reportedly being in on Josh Naylor, Kyle Schwarber, and other high-profile free-agent bats.

Sánchez is far from high profile, but he brings stability to a lineup that is in dire need of a boost of production.

Joey Bart has actually been quite solid for the Pirates since coming over via trade in 2024, posting a 121 wRC+ in 2024 and a 101 wRC+ in 2025. However, he has dealt with plenty of injuries throughout his career, as his career high in games played in a single season sits at just 97.

The other catching options on the roster have potential but have yet to demonstrate it at the big-league level.

Henry Davis, the club’s first overall pick back in 2021, has a 53 wRC+ and .556 OPS in 186 career MLB games. He has two option years remaining, so adding Sánchez wouldn’t be the end of Davis in Pittsburgh.

Endy Rodríguez still has the makings of being a foundational piece for the Pirates moving forward, but after tearing his UCL in February of 2024, he struggled in his return to the majors last year. Rodríguez hit .173 with a 38 wRC+ in 18 games, and elbow inflammation ended his campaign in July.

So, the Pirates could use an older, more established option to work in with Bart. Their DH role is all but locked up, so Sánchez could certainly get some reps there too.

This offense has been at or near the bottom of MLB for the past two seasons. Additions need to be made, and Sánchez, who could also be a flip candidate at the trade deadline should things go well, could be a valuable addition for this young clubhouse.

Houston Astros

Sánchez would be a great fit in Houston for two reasons: He pulls the ball in the air at a high rate, and they have an opening at the backup catcher spot following the departure of Victor Caratini.

Starting with Sánchez’s profile, though it was a small sample size, he pulled the ball in the air at a 27.7% clip in 2025. That would have placed him just outside the top 10 in MLB. His pull-air rate has dipped a bit since leaving New York, but perhaps leaning into that pull-side power with the Crawford Boxes in left field is the recipe for a career renaissance.

The Astros could also use another veteran option behind starter Yanier Diaz. While a lefty bat may be a more ideal pairing, Sánchez would bring the necessary impact off the bench that Houston is looking for.

His defense and framing is certainly lacking and would be an enormous step back from what Caratini brought to the table, but the uptick in offensive production would be welcomed. For a team looking to get back to October, Sánchez could be a spark off the bench at an affordable rate.