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While the Major League Baseball free agent market has slowed to a crawl ahead of the holiday season, the Toronto Blue Jays continue to add to the organization in other areas. After adding reliever Bobby Milacki on a minor league deal and finalizing manager John Schneider's coaching staff for the 2025 season, the Jays continued by adding some much-needed catching depth this week.
According to Sportsnet's Shi Davidi, the Blue Jays have signed Ali Sánchez to a minor league contract. The 27-year-old backstop split the 2024 season between the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins before being granted free agency.
The Blue Jays, continuing to build out their depth, are in agreement with catcher Ali Sanchez on a minor-league deal with an invite to spring training. The 27-year-old split time in the Marlins and Cubs systems last season, appearing in 31 big-league games with Miami.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) December 16, 2024
A right-handed hitter, Sánchez was originally signed out of Venezuela by the New York Mets in 2014. He spent six years in their minor league system before making his MLB debut in 2020. Since then he has spent time with the St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks leading up to the 2024 season.
Ali Sánchez brings some much-needed catching depth to the Blue Jays
He only has a smattering of major league experience, with 38 games and 110 plate appearances under his belt, carrying a light MLB slash line of .175/.221/.216 into 2025. He saw the most MLB action of his career this past season after winding up in Miami. In 31 games (96 plate appearances), he slashed a meager .167/.211/.190 with four RBI, a pair of stolen bases and 24 strikeouts.
Despite the uninspiring MLB stats, Sánchez is currently playing in the Venezuelan Winter League and has put up some impressive stats. In 15 games, he's batting .410 with a 1.066 OPS, one home run and six doubles.
Sánchez's addition comes at a crucial time, with the Blue Jays losing two high-minors catching backups to free agency this offseason. The depth behind Alejandro Kirk and Tyler Heineman looked thin after Brian Serven left to sign with the Tigers and Payton Henry recently signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. Sánchez immediately jumps to the top of the Triple-A catching depth chart, ahead of Phil Clarke.
Regardless of how his bat looks with the Buffalo Bisons next season, there's a good chance we see Sánchez in Toronto at some point, at least based on how thin the catching ranks are right now. With injuries an inevitability, the Blue Jays eventually will just need a warm body to lend an assist with the major league club.