Bleeding Yankee Blue: GARY SANCHEZ IS UNTOUCHABLE!

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

GARY SANCHEZ IS UNTOUCHABLE!

There has been an expression that has threaded its way through every day life, both in sports and in business: Everyone is replaceable. Unless, of course, you are a finalist for American League Rookie of the Year and your name is Gary Sanchez.

"It should really be, 'No one's untouchable.' You really need to be open-minded to anything. But there has to be a reality factor to it. Are we going to be trading Gary Sanchez? No. We're not," stated Brian Cashman yesterday just before heading into the first day of MLB's General Managers' Meetings in Scottsdale, AZ. Yankee fans, you can now breathe a collective sigh of relief. I know I am.

Sanchez finished the 2016 season with a .299 batting average, 20 home runs and 42 RBI in just 53 games. And according to NJ.com, "He was also roundly praised for his cannon arm and vastly improved game calling and blocking." Not to mention, Sanchez brought hope back to the Bronx, something missing since Derek Jeter exited more than two years ago.

"But in fairness, I'm open minded to everybody asking me about everybody. That's fine. Listen, I'm asking on players as I would hope our fan base would want me to be asking about somebody else's great, young prospect that's No. 1 in their system or super star on their roster," stated Cashman. Clearly, it appears that our GM is looking out for us this time around. Perhaps he is thinking more like Theo Epstein, who pieced his team together with youth and key free agents who would work in Chicago for less in order to be a part of something greater.

We need pitching and we need big bats. But at the same time, we need to hold onto our youth and we need to keep key veterans like Brett Gardner, who again, is said to be on the auction block. Brian, go ahead and put your feelers out there as you will, but don't give away the farm, literally. Things will continue to heat up in the coming weeks as we head into the Winter Meetings on December 5th. But at least we know that Sanchez is untouchable!