Report: Giants Sign Former Yankees All-Star Slugger to Minor League Deal

The Giants have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with free-agent catcher Gary Sánchez, per a report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on Friday.

The deal allows the former Yankees All-Star to opt out of the deal if he’s not on the major league roster by May 1. In the interim, Sánchez will head to San Francisco’s spring-training center in Scottsdale, Ariz. prior to joining a minor-league affiliate.

Sánchez, spent the 2022 season with the Twins after being acquired in the deal from the Yankees with Gio Urshela in exchange for Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ben Rortvedt. 

The deal, which centered around Donaldson and Sánchez, failed to return what Minnesota was envisioning. The Twins were hoping a change of scenery would help Sánchez return to his rookie season form when he hit 20 homers with 42 RBIs in just 53 games back in 2016.

Last season with Minnesota, Sánchez hit 16 home runs with 61 RBIs. However, his .205 batting average was once again a cause for concern as the hard-hitting catcher continued his struggles with the bat, extending his streak of futility at the plate. The 30-year-old talent has failed to hit higher than .234 in each of his last five seasons.