The Boston Red Sox have been one of the more active teams in Major League Baseball during the offseason, making a series of moves aimed at reshaping the roster and positioning the organization for the upcoming season. While much of the attention has understandably been focused on additions to the major league club, the Red Sox also face important decisions when it comes to organizational depth—particularly at the minor league level. Depth may not grab headlines, but it often plays a crucial role over the course of a long and unpredictable season.
One recent development that highlights this issue is the loss of catcher Ali Sánchez, who signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees on December 17. Sánchez had elected free agency from the Red Sox earlier in the offseason, doing so on October 6. While his departure is not likely to have a significant impact on Boston’s major league plans, it does remove a layer of catching depth that could have been useful in the event of injuries or roster shuffling.
During the 2024 season, Sánchez appeared in just four games for the Red Sox at the major league level. That limited playing time makes it easy to overlook his presence, but his overall body of work—particularly in Triple-A—suggests that he was a capable depth option. Though not a difference-maker, Sánchez had the experience and skill set to step in if needed, which is exactly the type of player teams often rely on when unforeseen circumstances arise.
Ultimately, Sánchez was never going to dramatically alter the trajectory of the Red Sox franchise. He was not a player expected to push for a starting role or become a key contributor at the big league level. However, baseball seasons are rarely linear, and injuries, fatigue, and performance issues often force teams to dig deeper into their organizational depth. In those situations, having a veteran catcher with Triple-A success and some major league experience can be valuable. Boston may have benefited from retaining him in that limited but important role.
Instead, it was the Yankees who moved quickly to secure Sánchez’s services. New York signed him to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A, where he will likely serve as organizational depth behind their primary catching options. While the move may not make headlines, it represents a practical decision by the Yankees to strengthen their system at a position where depth is always at a premium.
Sánchez’s journey during the 2024 season was anything but straightforward. He began the year in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, spending the majority of his time at the Triple-A level. Although he was primarily stationed in the minors, Toronto did call him up to the major leagues on two separate occasions. In both instances, however, his stays were brief, and he was designated for assignment after each stint.
Following his second designation for assignment by the Blue Jays, Sánchez’s career took another turn when the Red Sox claimed him off waivers. The move gave Boston an experienced catcher who could provide depth behind the plate, but the situation did not stabilize for long. After appearing in just one game with the Red Sox, Sánchez was once again designated for assignment.
At that point, Sánchez faced a decision: accept an outright assignment to Triple-A Worcester or elect free agency. He chose the latter, opting to test the open market rather than remain in the Red Sox system. That decision led him to sign with the New York Mets, though his time there was also short-lived.
In an unusual twist, the Mets traded Sánchez back to the Red Sox on August 31, reuniting him with the organization that had just let him go weeks earlier. Following his return, Sánchez appeared in three additional games for Boston, bringing his total to four major league appearances with the team for the season. The back-and-forth nature of these transactions underscores just how fluid life can be for players on the fringe of major league rosters.
From a statistical standpoint, Sánchez’s major league production in 2024 was modest. Across his limited opportunities, he hit just .217, numbers that do not stand out in a league increasingly driven by offensive output. However, those big league statistics do not tell the full story of his season.
At the Triple-A level, Sánchez was far more productive. While playing for the Blue Jays’ Triple-A affiliate, he posted a strong .279 batting average, along with a .347 on-base percentage and a .419 slugging percentage. He also hit six home runs, demonstrating some pop for a catcher and showing that he could contribute offensively against high-level minor league pitching.
Those numbers suggest that Sánchez is a capable hitter in Triple-A, even if that success has not fully translated to the major leagues. This is not uncommon, particularly for catchers, who often face steep learning curves due to the defensive and mental demands of the position. Catchers are expected to manage pitching staffs, learn scouting reports, and handle game-calling responsibilities, all while trying to adjust to big league pitching.
For the Red Sox, Sánchez represented a known commodity—a player who could hold his own in Triple-A and provide emergency coverage in the majors if needed. Losing him does not create an immediate problem, but it does slightly thin the margin for error. Should injuries strike the catching position, Boston may now have to rely on less experienced options or look outside the organization for help.
The situation also highlights the broader challenge teams face when balancing roster flexibility with long-term planning. Players like Sánchez often bounce between organizations not because they lack talent, but because roster spots are limited and teams are constantly searching for marginal upgrades. Minor league deals and waiver claims are part of the daily churn of professional baseball, and stability can be hard to come by for players in these roles.
From Sánchez’s perspective, signing with the Yankees could offer a clearer path to consistent playing time at the Triple-A level. New York’s system may provide him with an opportunity to showcase his skills while staying ready in case the major league club needs reinforcement. For a player who has spent much of his career moving between teams, that kind of opportunity can be appealing.
As for the Red Sox, their offseason activity suggests they are focused on addressing larger needs, but depth remains an area worth monitoring. Catching, in particular, is a physically demanding position, and even well-laid plans can unravel over the course of 162 games. While Sánchez may not have been a long-term solution, his departure serves as a reminder that every layer of the organization matters.
In the end, Ali Sánchez’s exit is a relatively small move in the grand scheme of the Red Sox offseason. Still, it reflects the constant adjustments teams must make as they build rosters not just for Opening Day, but for the inevitable twists and turns of the season ahead. Whether Boston chooses to replace him internally or look elsewhere for additional minor league depth remains to be seen, but the need for reliable organizational pieces will always be part of the equation.
