NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees shuffled their backup catcher alignment on Saturday, optioning J.C. Escarra to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre and selecting the contract of Ali Sanchez.

Sanchez batted ninth and is New York’s first right-handed hitting catcher since Jose Trevino started Game 3 of the 2024 World Series against the Dodgers.

kAm%96 *2?<66D 6?E6C65 $2EFC52J H:E9 2? p{\H@CDE ]`f` 2G6C286 7C@> E96:C 42E496CD] ~?=J $2? s:68@’D ]`ef >2C< 7C@> :ED 42E496CD 😀 H@CD6] $E2CE6C pFDE:? (6==D 😀 9:EE:?8 ]`ee H:E9 7@FC 9@>6CD 2?5 D6G6? #qxD 😕 cf 82>6D]k^Am

kAm“xE ;FDE 76=E =:<6 H:E9 @FC 42E496CD DECF88=:?8 2 =:EE=6 3:E @776?D:G6=J[ ;FDE 76=E =:<6 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ 6I:DED 7@C p=: E@ 86E FA 96C6 2?5 8:G6 FD 2 5:776C6?E =@@< 2?5 8:G6 y]r] 2 492?46 E@ 8@ 5@H? E96C6 2?5 A=2J 2 =:EE=6 >@C6[” >2?286C p2C@? q@@?6 D2:5 367@C6 E96 *2?<66D 4@?E:?F65 2 E9C66\82>6 D6C:6D H:E9 E96 #65 $@I]k^Am

kAmx? 9:D D64@?5 D62D@? 324<:?8 FA (6==D[ tD42CC2 H2D 9:EE:?8 ]`ff H:E9 ?@ 9@>6CD 2?5 D6G6? #qxD 😕 aa 82>6D] {2DE D62D@?[ tD42CC2 32EE65 ]a_a H:E9 EH@ 9@>6CD 2?5 “ #qxD 😕 c_ 82>6D]k^Am

kAm$2?496K ;@:?65 E96 *2?<66D 27E6C 9:EE:?8 ]aaf H:E9 D:I 9@>6CD 2?5 “ #qxD 😕 c_ 82>6D 😕 %C:A=6\p] w6 2=D@ E9C6H @FE agT W`a @7 b`X @7 2EE6>AE65 32D6 DE62=6CD]k^Am

kAm$2?496K 92D 32EE65 ]`gb 😕 d_ 42C66C 82>6D 7@C E96 |6ED[ r2C5:?2=D[ |2C=:?D[ q=F6 y2JD 2?5 #65 $@I] w6 2=D@ 92D E9C@H? @FE ?62C=J acT W`_ @7 agX 2EE6>AE65 32D6 DE62=6CD]k^Am

k9am$E2?E@? 9:ED @? 7:6=5 7@C D64@?5 E:>6[ 4@?E:?F6D CF??:?8k^9am

kAmv:2?42C=@ $E2?E@? 4@?E:?F65 9:D C64@G6CJ 7C@> C:89E 42=7 DEC2:? 3J E2<:?8 2E\32ED 282:?DE :?;FC65 C6=:6G6C p?86= r9:G:==: 7@C E96 D64@?5 E:>6 E9:D H66<]k^Am

kAm$E2?E@? 2=D@ 72465 r9:G:==: @? (65?6D52J 2?5 E@@< 7@FC 2E\32ED H9:=6 D66:?8 23@FE `_ A:E496D]k^Am

kAm$E2?E@?[ H9@ 92D 366? @? E96 :?;FC65 =:DE D:?46 pAC:= ag[ 2=D@ 5:5 =:89E CF??:?8]k^Am

kAmw6 C2? 😕 E96 @FE7:6=5 7C@> E96 C:89E 7:6=5 7@F= =:?6 E@ 2? 2C62 369:?5 D64@?5 32D6] p7E6C E92E[ $E2?E@? C2? A2DE 7:CDE 32D6 2 76H E:>6D H9:=6 DE2CE:?8 23@FE 92=7H2J FA E96 7@F= =:?6]k^Am

kAm“w6’D 😕 9:D D64@?5 H66< @7 CF??:?8[” q@@?6 D2:5] “w@A67F==J D@@?6C C2E96C E92? =2E6C 3FE 96’D 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ 3F:=5 FA E96 CF??:?8 A@CE:@?]”k^Am

k9C ^m

kAmp! |{qi k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^>=3Qm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^>=3k^2mk^Am

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.