CLEVELAND -- Gaby Sanchez was not only an All-Star last year, he was the Marlins' only selection to the team. Now he and his .197 batting average are headed to the minors.
The Marlins optioned the slumping first baseman to Triple A New Orleans following his 0-for-3 performance against Cleveland on Saturday.
"We don't think he's a .190 hitter," said Marlins general manager Michael Hill. "We think he's better than he's showing here. We think he's pressing. We want to take some of the pressure off him, get him down to Triple A, and get him right."
The Marlins are expected to call up Chris Coghlan, and could use any one of three players at first: Logan Morrison, Greg Dobbs and Austin Kearns.
After a robust first half last season that earned him an All-Star selection, Sanchez struggled in the second half. Hill said all of that was considered before reaching Saturday's decision to send him to Triple A. Sanchez hasn't played in the minors since 2009.
"We know that he struggled the second half of last year after an All-Star first half," Hill said. "That's always in your evaluation. But we just saw a player who was struggling in the major leagues and not the same player we've seen historically. Nobody ever wants to be told they have to go down. But I think he realizes he's better than he's shown."
