(Minneapolis) Wide receiver Gary Sanchez and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a one-year, $9 million pact on Thursday, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing that would take place next week.
This pact made it possible to cut the apple in two: during the last meeting between the two parties on March 22, Sanchez demanded 9.5 million, while the twins wanted to offer him 8.5 million. An arbitration hearing has been scheduled for the following Tuesday.
Sanchez was hitting .204 with 23 home runs and 54 RBIs last season with the New York Yankees — his stats had been plummeting for the past two seasons.
Sanchez, 29, was traded to the Twins on March 13 along with infielder Gio Urshela for third baseman Josh Donaldson, shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and catcher Ben Rortvedt. Sanchez started Thursday with a .224 average, seven home runs and 27 RBIs.
Jacob Stallings of the Miami Marlins is the last wide receiver who can still get a salary arbitration hearing in the major leagues.
