Jays Journal
FanSided

Blue Jays maintain catching depth after sneaking backup through waivers

Ali Sanchez resigns and is assigned to Buffalo
ByMatthew Sookram|
Feb 21, 2025; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Ali Sanchez (75) participates in media day at the Blue Jays Player Development Complex. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Feb 21, 2025; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Ali Sanchez (75) participates in media day at the Blue Jays Player Development Complex. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

When Andrés Giménez and Tyler Heineman returned from the injured list earlier this week, it mean a corresponding move had to be made, affecting the big-league roster. It meant infielder Michael Stefanic and catcher Ali Sanchez would be demoted.

Sanchez has cleared waivers and after a brief stint in free agency, he re-signed with the Blue Jays on a new minor league contract, which is welcomed news for the Toronto Blue Jays, ensuring their depth at the catching position remains strong. Keeping Sanchez within the organization might not be a game changer in the long run, but it certainly helps at a position that seemed weak several months ago.

At the 2024 trade deadline, the Blue Jays traded impending free agent Danny Jansen to the Boston Red Sox, leaving them with Alejandro Kirk as the number option as the back stopper. Many fans at the time lauded the move as it felt like Toronto had completely diminished what was once a promising core group of catchers. Beyond Jansen and Kirk, they also had Gabriel Moreno in the system, before Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins traded him in a package to the Arizona Diamondbacks to acquire Daulton Varsho.

Fast forward to Spring Training of 2025 and the Blue Jays basically had Kirk and a handful of questions marks which included Heineman, Christian Bethancourt, Sanchez and Phil Clarke. The Blue Jays made sure to lock up Kirk to an extension, but their was trepidation beyond him of who would fill out the back up roles.

Now over two months into the season, those worries have eased with not only the breakout season from Heineman, who is slashing .404/.418/.558 in 20 games, but 28-year-old Sanchez is having a fine year in Triple-A. With the Buffalo Bisons Sanchez is hitting .253/.324/.440 with five home runs and 104 wRC+ in 28 games.  

Sanchez is projecting to be one of those players who will have a very nice minor league career, but will mostly be called up to the majors in the event of an injury-and be mostly relied on for his defence. Baseball prospectus grades him as a strong defender at the Triple-A level, while his bat has kept him around in the minors as well. Since the 2022 season, Sanchez has a .269/.348/.423 slash line in the minor leagues, but has hit just .176/.217/.222 in the majors.

After clearing waivers Sanchez had the choice to elect free agency or accept his minor league assignment, and after a very brief foray into the free agent market, he’s back with Toronto.