Former All-Star catcher Gary Sanchez asked for and was granted his release from the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.
The veteran catcher signed a one-year $4 million contract with the Giants this past offseason with the hope that he would eventually be called up to the main roster.
May 1st offered a deadline that allowed for an opt-out in his contract if he wasn’t called up to the main roster by then. He was not called up and the team subsequently granted his release wishes.
The Giants have released Gary Sanchez, the team announced.
Sanchez opted out of his minor-league deal after he wasn't added to the 40-man roster by the May 1st deadline. pic.twitter.com/f4csgW0Czr
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 2, 2023
Sanchez played 16 games for their Triple-A Affiliate in Sacramento, and did not prove all that much in his time there. He slashed just .164/.319/.189 in his time with the team.
UPDATE 🗞️
Today is C Gary Sanchez’s opt-out day, if he is not on the #SFGiants big league roster by the end of the day.In 16 games at AAA Sacramento, Sanchez has slashed .164/.319/.189 with nine hits (one double) pic.twitter.com/lNhJ1ubiR0
— SF Giants Update (@Giants__Update) May 1, 2023
At just 30 years of age, Sanchez’s career is certainly now in question. Many speculated about where he could potentially end up next now that he is a free agent.
I’d have to imagine Gary Sanchez and the Angels will talk about becoming an Angel in the very near future…
— Jared Tims (@Jared_Tims) May 2, 2023
I wouldn’t mind pirates take a chance on Gary Sanchez and get rid of hedges
— PSWSteelCity (@SteelCityPSW) May 3, 2023
Some Yankees fans are even hoping that they potentially bring Gary Sanchez back after starting his career with the organization.
I want the Yankees to bring back Gary Sanchez just for the chaos it would cause for YT pic.twitter.com/LGp4SKDs2B
— Mike Salvatore (@MikeSalvatore10) May 2, 2023
Gary Sanchez can’t be worse than Willie Calhoun right?
— JC🇵🇷 (@CantH0ldMe_) May 2, 2023
Sanchez had some very productive years in New York, making two All-Star game appearances and hitting over 30 home runs in two of his seven seasons with the organization.
He has proven in the past that he can be productive in the right situation, but it has been a long time since he has been a solid contributor to an MLB roster. Sanchez has failed to hold over a .205 batting average in each of the last three seasons.