Sánchez: "I think they have really good chemistry and for me it’s an honor to be part of this team now"

The role isn’t defined for Gary Sánchez, the new Orioles backup catcher. He isn’t sure how many innings he’ll get behind the plate or whether he’ll do more hitting than squatting. He’s just eager to be part of a contending team, which he’s used to doing, and try to push it further through the postseason.

Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias reached agreement with Sánchez on an $8.5 million contract for 2025, with the deal becoming official at the Winter Meetings in Dallas. Sánchez is replacing veteran backup James McCann, who remains on the free-agent market.

McCann was a popular figure in the clubhouse and particularly with the pitching staff, but the Orioles didn’t try to bring him back. Sánchez will be the first primary backup since Robinson Chirinos, who’s now the bench coach, in 2022.

“I think they have really good chemistry, and for me it’s an honor to be part of this team now,” Sánchez said during today’s video call via interpreter Brandon Quinones. “They have a lot of great, young talent, a real exciting group, and I’m just looking forward to going out there and helping any way that I can to support this team and help this team win.”

The Brewers were Sánchez’s fifth team and he appeared in 89 games this year, batting .220/.307/.392 with seven doubles and 11 home runs. He started at catcher in 27 of those games and at first base once, with the majority of his work as the designated hitter.

The Orioles figure to use him a lot more in the backup role while waiting for prospect Samuel Basallo, elevated to No. 1 in the organization in Baseball America’s latest rankings, to earn a promotion.

“I think at that point it’s the manager’s decision and I leave it up to him,” Sánchez said. “If they want me to be the designated hitter, I’ll be more than happy to do that. If they want me to catch, I’ll do that, as well. Even if they want to put me at first base, I’ll be more than happy to do that, as well. So whatever helps the team win.”

Sánchez was a two-time All-Star and a Silver Slugger winner with the Yankees, and he finished as runner-up in Rookie of the Year voting in 2016. He caught in a career-high 110 games (100 starts) in 2021 in his final season in New York, and in 91 (80 starts) the following year with the Twins.

He won’t supplant Adley Rutschman as the No. 1 guy in Baltimore, but McCann made 63 starts among his 65 appearances this year. Rutschman’s presence doesn’t bury the backup.

“I think it'll be a lot of fun and I think I can really learn from him,” said Sánchez, who turned 32 earlier this month. “Just because someone spends a lot of time in the major leagues doesn't mean that you can stop learning. So I'm looking forward to learning from him and I'm looking forward to him learning from me, as well, and us working with each other.

“I'm really looking forward to us having the opportunity to really help this team win and get along," Sánchez said. "I haven't really met him yet, but I'm looking forward to meeting him soon and getting to work with him.”

Ten seasons in the majors have taught Sánchez how to get acclimated to new pitching staffs. He can begin in February when camp opens in Sarasota.

“I'm always looking to learn and so I think that I've had a great chance to work with a lot of great pitchers and work with them using the reports and different things like that,” he said. “I think every pitcher is different on an individual basis, so I'm looking forward to getting to work with them in that sense, and I'm also looking forward to working with the pitching coaches and kind of get to know them and see what they expect and develop that relationship and that chemistry from there.”

Unlike outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who signed with the Orioles on the same day, Sánchez knows some of the players in the clubhouse. He included reliever Danny Coulombe, unsure whether the left-hander remained in the organization. Coulombe is a free agent after the Orioles declined the option on his contract.

“I’ve worked with a few guys before, some pitchers,” Sánchez said. “I worked with (Yennier) Cano when we were in Minnesota together. And actually, (Jorge) Mateo, I spoke with him about this opportunity and kind of wanted to get his take on coming to Baltimore, and he just told me, ‘Man, there’s a lot of great people here. A lot of great teammates. We have a really good manager. It’s an exciting time and we have a lot of great chemistry here.’ So I thought that was obviously great to hear.”

Sánchez also is no stranger to the American League East. He debuted in the majors with the Yankees in 2015, appearing in two games, and played for them through 2021.

“I’m very excited,” he said. “It’s a division where I started my professional career, so I feel like I know the stadiums very well. Yankee Stadium, Oriole Park, even Toronto, so I’m very excited. I’m looking forward to getting back out there.

“I know the Orioles are a very competitive team. They’ve done a lot of great things these last couple of years, and so I’m looking to join the race again and being competitive.”