Off to a historic start with the New York Yankees, Gary Sanchez’s value will never be higher.
Is it fair to say that this is the best start to a career in baseball history? Well, anyone with logical reason would most likely come to that solution.
Without going on an incredibly unsuccessful tangent attempting to describe the indescribable, let’s just provide the numbers, which, in large part, should tell the story.
Gary Sanchez, a 23-year-old rookie phenom, who should deservingly take home AL Rookie of the Year honors, has slashed an astounding .337/.410/.747 with 19 homers and 38 RBIs in his first 45 career games. Yes, 45 games. Unbelievably, 19 — yes, 19 — home runs.
Has that ever been done? No. Never.
What Sanchez has accomplished is simply unfeasible. Continuing at this rate, or three-quarters of it, would be unquestionably legendary.
With that said, it is not safe to assume it will continue. Sorry, Yankees’ faithful.
At the moment, anyone — and I mean anyone — would budge on this kid. Too lofty a ceiling resulting from a start which may or may not be fool’s gold.
What anyone can generally fathom — or do not want to believe — is a great talent off to an outlandish start which cannot possibly be sustained.
Until it stops, though, who will not desire the services of this prodigy?
Sure, it is extremely difficult to draw the fine line when it comes to value, particularly with a sample size that consists of two months. Is this guy Ruthian? Has he simply defied all odds on a path towards becoming a formidable big league catcher?
After all, there is reason as to why he was no more than a solid .275 power bat over his seven seasons as a farmhand.
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Here are the crucial questions you need to ask yourself from a Yankees organizational perspective:
If Billy Eppler dialed Brian Cashman and offered Mike Trout, a 25-year-old face of baseball, for Sanchez, do you do it?
If Michael Hill rung up the Yankees’ GM and offered Jose Fernandez, the epitome of an ace which the Yankees so desperately desire to climb over the hump in 2017 and beyond, does the well-respected GM take the deal?
If Farhan Zaidi made a bold call which featured a discussion involving Clayton Kershaw, a once-in-a-generation starting pitcher, do you entertain it?
Just how “untouchable” is Sanchez? Is he as valuable to the franchise — one with two proven catchers — as a brilliant five-tool player, dynamic stopper, or untouchable southpaw would be?
For New York, it is no longer about the rebuild-in-disguise, pulling off 85 wins per year while retooling for the future. It is about winning now, and in a prompt, ultimately swift, fashion.
For everyone who wanted the Yankees to flip their Chicago-induced trade deadline returns — Gleyber Torres, Billy McKinney, etc. — for a guy with the stature of a Chris Sale, a Sanchez swap would not merely be gold, it would be platinum.
At this rate, the Yanks can land Fernandez and then some — big league proven commodities who can aid a championship drive.
The key phrase is “at this rate.” They cannot and should not wait for a return to normalcy before seizing the opportunity to strike.
At season’s end, Gary Sanchez will be the most coveted player in baseball. If the Yankees do not gauge interest, they will be doing themselves a massive disservice.
Most importantly, they are the ones in the driver’s seat. They have the unique, yet undetermined, Hollywood story that everyone wants a piece of.
If Cashman does not hear exactly what he wants, he can stonewall each executive in pursuit of baseball’s greatest prize.
At the very least, he can say that he tried.