If bird comes back and hits, then sure I want him to play 1b, and I will dh sanchez, and sign a catcher in 2018. Holiday is only signed for 1 year, so that is the way I would go. My plan of moving sanchez doesn't block bird, if bird comes back and proves he can hit, fine, I will dh sanchez. Don't need him in the catcher position as a full time starter. If bird proves he can hit I will welcome it and make sanchez my DH for the next 12 years.
what your forgetting is not just shortening his career you forgetting the number of at bats lost. which is even a bigger factor for me, if you get 20-25% less at bats because he is a catcher over those 10 years. what is that 150 pa your missing a year and probably deteriorating results in at bats late in games because he is tired no thanks I can find someone who catch just as well, and hit enough where it won't be a detriment and I can have sanchez healthier, fresher, and get a ton of more at bats from. I don't see why this is complicated that I want another 150 pa over the course of the year, you however just don't seem to get that. which is more baffling to me then anything. And I'm not saying giving up on bird. if bird proves he can't hit this year (admittingly not as high on him, so not completely sold on him), then by all means keep him at 1b, if bird comes back and isn't good then we move sanchez to 1b in 2018. either way we make most of sanchez starts when he is a non catcher, I would make sanchez the backup catcher that way he can catch interleague and keep fresh alot less wear and tear that way in my opinion, if bird proves he can be the 1b, which I'm not sold on
