The Tampa Bay Rays are trying to get back to playoff baseball. After five consecutive playoff appearances, including two American League East titles and a World Series appearance, the Rays have missed the playoffs in each of the last two years.
The Rays may have had losing records in 2024 and 2025, but they hovered around the .500 mark. They play in a competitive division that featured three playoff teams and the AL World Series representative in 2025, but the Rays could be a few pieces away from making some noise.
One of the Rays’ biggest needs heading into 2026 is catcher. It’s been somewhat of a revolving door lately.
*This is a PREDICTION, not a report.*
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Gary Sánchez Could Return to AL East
Gary Sánchez spent the first seven years of his career with the New York Yankees. After short stints with the Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, and Milwaukee Brewers, Sánchez returned to the AL East with the Baltimore Orioles in 2025.
Sánchez could join his third AL East team this offseason.
Rays Should Sign Gary Sánchez in Free Agency
The Rays don’t have noteworthy options at catcher heading into the 2026 season. Danny Jansen was traded to the Brewers before the deadline, leaving the Rays with a weakness behind the plate.
Sánchez looked to be the next star catcher after hitting .299 with 20 home runs in just 53 games with the Yankees in 2016 and having continued success in the following years. He was an All-Star and Silver Slugger in 2017 after hitting 33 home runs and a career-high 90 RBI, and he hit a career-high 34 home runs in 2019, earning his second All-Star selection.
Unfortunately, Sánchez has failed to replicate those power numbers and hasn’t hit higher than .232 in a season since 2017. He went from an elite-caliber talent to a serviceable backup or platoon option.
Even though Sánchez doesn’t check all the boxes for a starting catcher at this point in his career, the soon-to-be 33-year-old is likely a better option than what the Rays have.
Hunter Feduccia hit .151 in 36 games with the Rays in 2025 after being traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’s a career .170 hitter with five extra-base hits and nine RBI in 43 major league games.
Nick Fortes is another catching option for the Rays. The veteran was acquired from the Miami Marlins before the trade deadline this past year and hit .213 with three home runs in 38 games with the Rays. He’s a career .224 hitter across five seasons.
The Rays could opt to give their No. 15 prospect per MLB Pipeline, Dominic Keegan, a chance. The 25-year-old catcher hit .241 with 16 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, and 36 RBI in 69 games at Triple-A in 2025 and was recently added to the Rays’ 40-man roster.
There aren’t many game-changing options available on the free agent market at the catcher position. J.T. Realmuto is likely the best option, but the soon-to-be 35-year-old will likely have his eyes set on a World Series contender.
Sánchez is far from the player he once was earlier in his career, but he could provide the Rays with some stability behind the plate in 2026. He can’t be any worse than what they already have.
Gary Sánchez Career Stats
Sánchez is a career .224 hitter with 189 home runs and 509 RBI. He hit 20 or more home runs four times in his 11-year career, including two 30-plus home runs seasons in 2017 and 2019.
Sánchez isn’t known for his defense and has proven to be a liability behind the plate. A team like the Rays would be relying on his offense.
Sánchez hit .231 with five home runs and 24 RBI in 29 games with the Orioles in 2025. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in July.