Sanchez, Pazos Vie For Roles In Majors — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

NEW YORK—When Hal Steinbrenner included Gary Sanchez and James Pazos in the list of prospects the Yankees labeled untouchable before the trade deadline last July, there was a certain amount of head scratching.

Catcher Brian McCann was in the second of a five-year deal and John Ryan Murphy was looking like he would be a regular someday. So, where was the chance for Sanchez to play?

Pazos is a lefty reliever who started the season on Double-A Trenton’s disabled list with a shoulder issue. Lefty relievers Justin Wilson and Chasen Shreve were pitching well, were 27 and 25, respectively and not making budget-busting salaries.

Now with Murphy traded to the Twins for outfielder Aaron Hicks and Wilson dealt to the Tigers for a pair of minor league righthanders, there are openings for Sanchez and Pazos to make the big league club.

“He has grown up before our eyes,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said of the 23-year-old Sanchez, who was signed for $3 million as a 16-year-old from the Dominican Republic in 2009.

Sanchez started the season at Trenton and batted .262 with 12 homers, 36 RBIs and an OPS of .795 in 58 games. Promoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the righthander batted .295 with six homers, 26 RBIs and a .849 OPS. The strong season continued in the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .295 with seven homers, 21 RBIs and a .982 OPS in 22 games.

“He improved in every category,’’ Cashman said. “The bat was always there, now his defense has come a long way—blocking balls, calling a game and throwing.’’

While Sanchez will open spring training as the favorite to win the backup spot, Pazos won’t be an automatic choice.

“I think he is definitely in the mix, he has a power arm,’’ Joe Girardi said of 6-foot-3, 230-pound Pazos, who appeared in 11 September games for the Yankees after a combined 27 for Trenton and Scranton.

Pazos, 25 in May, was taken in the 13th round of the 2012 draft out of the University of San Diego.

YANKEE DOODLES

• Barring an injury to Mark Teixeira, first baseman Greg Bird is likely ticketed for Triple-A to begin 2016.

• Similarly, second baseman Rob Refsnyder, who also had a taste of big league success in 2015, will join Bird after the Yankees acquired second baseman Starlin Castro from the Cubs in early December.