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Updated · Pinstripe Alley · Jun 6Yankees Call Up Ali Sánchez, Option J.C. Escarra for Righty Catcher Option
3 articles · Updated · Pinstripe Alley · Jun 6Summary
- Ali Sánchez was promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after the Yankees optioned backup catcher J.C. Escarra following a loss to Boston.
- The move gives New York a right-handed bat behind the plate after the lefty-lefty pairing of Escarra and Austin Wells struggled badly in 2026.
- Sánchez has a .702 OPS in Triple-A this season, though he owns just a .454 OPS across 50 major league games with five teams this decade.
- He could start immediately against Boston left-hander Ranger Suárez as the Yankees keep scanning the trade market for catching help.
- The catcher shuffle comes as Aaron Judge's rib fracture forces New York to search for short-term offense and lineup flexibility.
Insights
Is New York's reliance on a top prospect and injured players a sound strategy or a season-ending gamble? Can MVP candidate Ben Rice's breakout year save the Yankees' season in Aaron Judge's absence? With Judge out, will the AL MVP crown go to Yordan Alvarez's power or Bobby Witt Jr.'s all-around game?