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AL East Rankings: Does Wieters departure hurt the Baltimore Orioles?

By Nate Wardle

Sep 23, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy (2) is tagged out by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Wellington Castillo (7) in the ninth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy (2) is tagged out by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Wellington Castillo (7) in the ninth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 2, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) bats against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (24) bats against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports /

1. New York Yankees

Yankees’ Catchers: Gary Sanchez, Austin Romine, Kyle Higashioka, Wilkin Castillo

The Yankees are now Gary Sanchez’s team behind the plate, and the youngster will get to prove himself in 2017.

Sanchez hit .299/.376/.657 with 20 HRs, 12 2Bs, 42 RBIs and 34 runs in 229 plate appearances in 53 games in 2016. He did so well that the Yankees moved on from Brian McCann, giving Sanchez the reins. While his oWAR was 2.6, he also had a positive dWAR of 0.5 in 2016.

In fact, all of Sanchez’s defensive statistics rate positively. The only questions are whether or not he will be able to adjust as the pitchers adjust, and what he will do in a full season.

Romine, of course, is nothing more than a backup catcher at this point. In 2016 he appeared in 62 games, hitting .242/.269/.382 with a negative WAR.

Higashioka has toiled for years in the Yanks’ minor league system, but showed power in 2016 and was able to earn an invite to Spring Training. However, I can’t see him making the team, barring injury.

Next: Pitching ahead of hitting so far as Orioles' spring training continues

Think I am giving the youngster too much credit? Discuss it in the comment section!

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