Twins Catcher Avoids Arbitration with 1-year Extension

Gary Sanchez and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to a one-year deal worth $9 million to avoid arbitration. The signing comes just in time as they will now avoid an arbitration meeting that had been scheduled for Tuesday next week. According to the Associated Press, the $9 million deal reportedly meets both Sanchez and the Twins halfway. The 29-year-old catcher was asking for $9.5 million and the Twins were offering just $8.5 million.

Gary Sánchez, Twins reach agreement on one-year, $9M contract to avoid arbitration, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 9, 2022

Ever since hitting 34 home runs in 2019, Sanchez hasn't been able to find his offensive groove. He batted just .204 and hit 23 home runs last season for the New York Yankees before they sent him to the Minnesota Twins in a package deal for Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

Sanchez got off to a cold start until mid-May, but has recently begun turning things around. Between May 17 and June 5, the catcher batted .246 with four home runs and a .759 OPS. On the season, Sanchez owns a .218 batting average with seven home runs and 27 RBIs.

If an extension agreement isn't reached before the end of the season, Sanchez will become an unrestricted free agent.