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Around the Empire: Yankees news - 9/5/19

Gary sets new HR record for Yankees catchers; Speculating about the 2020 starting outfield; Andujar not worried about future with Yanks; A list of impact players around the league returning in September

MLB: Texas Rangers at New York Yankees Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

NY Daily News | Kristie Ackert: Some of you may have noticed that Gary Sanchez hits a lot of homers. But just how many? Well, with his 34th homer of the year in Tuesday’s game, Sanchez set a new record for most homers in a single season by a Yankees catcher, breaking his own record of 33 homers which he set in 2017. After a disastrous 2018, Sanchez has bounced back well on both sides of the ball, hitting dingers and blocking pitches like nobody’s business. Here’s hoping the Yankees can keep him healthy for the stretch run and postseason.

New York Post | Joel Sherman: The Yankees’ outfield has been one of baseball’s best despite injuries to Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, thanks to contributions from pickups Mike Tauchman and Cameron Maybin and solid play from veteran Brett Gardner. With so many solid players, Sherman thinks that the only given for 2020 is Aaron Judge in right field, and that the other two outfield spots should be up for grabs. However, this blogger doesn’t see the Yankees being able or willing to move Stanton and Hicks’ contracts.

NJ.com | Brendan Kuty: Miguel Andujar’s rookie campaign feels like such a long time ago, but it was awesome to watch him hit last year. This year, though, Gio Urshela has burst onto the scene in Andujar’s absence, providing a similarly potent bat with defense that’s closer to league average. Andujar says that he isn’t worried about his future with the Yankees - I mean, what else is he going to tell reporters - but me thinks this is a tougher dilemma to handle than the 2020 outfield. Andujar seems like the safer bet to keep hitting, but Gio Urshela has been too valuable to just cast away.

MLB.com | Richard Justice: Finally, here’s a list of impact players around the league who are slated to return in September. Unsurprisingly, Luis Severino and Dellin Betances are both on the list, as getting the two of them healthy and effective would be a huge boon to the Yankees’ pitching staff. Meanwhile, the Yankees’ competition is also expecting some key reinforcements, as the Rays await the return of Tyler Glasgow and Blake Snell, while the Astros pine for Ryan Pressly and Carlos Correa to come back.