BALTIMORE — The plan for Gary Sanchez to play in a Gulf Coast League game in Florida on Thursday was sacked when, earlier in the week, the Yankees’ catcher felt something in his back while taking batting practice. Before he was cleared to play in a game, Sanchez needed to show the staff he could run and do things without a problem.
Sanchez did that and will play in a GCL game on Saturday. If that goes well, Sanchez will work out in Tampa on Sunday and join Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start a minor league rehab assignment.
Out since July 24 with a strained right groin, Sanchez could come off the DL in time to join the Yankees for the start of a critical West Coast trip on Sept. 3 in Oakland.
Just being activated isn’t enough for Sanchez, who went on the DL with a .188 batting average and showed a decided lack of effort chasing a passed ball and running to first in the game before he was shelved.
Aaron Judge didn’t take a bat in his hand Friday. When he does take that next step isn’t known. He has been on the DL since July 27 with a fractured right wrist.
Miguel Andujar, Aaron Hicks and Greg Bird were placed on waivers on Thursday, but the chances of them being dealt are slim. Teams often put players on waivers to see what teams are attracted to them, as a way of finding out who is interested for further deals.
While Andujar, the leading candidate for AL Rookie of the Year, and Hicks, the starting center fielder, aren’t likely trade candidates this offseason, Bird is an interesting case but not for this season. He is struggling this year but young enough (25) that other teams might be interested in him during the winter.
Aaron Boone sat Bird on Friday in the 7-5 win over the Orioles.
Giancarlo Stanton was the DH against right-hander Alex Cobb. Stanton drew three walks and scored a run.
“He is good. I decided to get him off (his feet). He is still managing (the hamstring),’’ said Boone, who will assess Stanton’s ability to play the outfield day by day.
Neil Walker, who started at second in the two games against the Marlins, was in right field and went 3-for-5 with a 10th-inning home run. Walker has started nine games in right field and is one away from starting at least 10 games at four positions in one season since Randy Velarde in 1995.
Sonny Gray will start the second game of Saturday’s two-gate doubleheader. J.A. Happ goes in the first one.
Bird reached out to Tyler Austin after Austin’s father chastised the Yankees for trading his son and keeping Bird.
“It’s fine,’’ Bird said of his relationship with Austin, a former teammate, who was dealt to the Twins in the deal that brought pitcher Lance Lynn to the Yankees late last month.