Detroit Tigers Rumors: Anibal Sanchez Drawing Interest at Winter Meetings

Detroit Tigers rumors season is here. With the Winter Meetings under way, the offseason is in full swing. According to the latest report, Anibal Sanchez is garnering trade interest.

Detroit Tigers rumors are back in full force.

After a day at the Winter Meetings that saw Chris Sale head from the White Sox to Red Sox, Tigers rumors are back in the headlines.

Per the latest from veteran insider Ken Rosenthal, Anibal Sanchez’ name is drawing interest.

The Fox Sports writer tweeted on Wednesday morning, “#Tigers getting hits on A. Sanchez, owed $21M incl $5M buyout. If DET could save, say $10M on him and $3M on J. Wilson, would be start.”

Rosenthal later tweeted, “In that scenario, #Tigers would eat money to move A. Sanchez and still have chance to trade J.D., Kinsler at deadline if out of contention.”

Moving Sanchez would certainly help Detroit’s payroll outlook in the long haul.

After turning in a stellar 2013 campaign that saw the former Marlin lead the league in ERA, FIP and home runs per nine innings—not to mention finishing fourth in the Cy Young voting—Sanchez has been up and down.

The starter notched a 2.71 FIP in 126 innings in 2014, but struggled mightily following the season.

From 2015 through the end of last year, Sanchez logged a 5.42 ERA while surrendering 197 runs, 102 walks and 59 home runs in 310.1 innings pitched.

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In 153.1 frames in 2016, the 32-year-old struck out 7.92 batters per nine innings, while walking 3.11 per nine innings. His WAR finished at 0.8.

According to Spotrac, the pitcher is owed $16.8 million next season with an option for 2018. Should the option be picked up, Sanchez would make $16 million that year. The Tigers can also buy him out for $5 million following 2017.

Should Detroit exercise his buyout, he’d be one of a number of veterans to see his contract expire following the 2017 campaign.

Mike Pelfrey, Francisco Rodriguez, Mark Lowe and J.D. Martinez will all hit free agency after next season. What’s more, Justin Upton and Ian Kinsler could join them depending on their respective options.

Per Spotrac, Upton has a player option, while Kinsler’s contract (according to the same website) calls for a club option.

Speculative Trade Fits

This is all purely speculative mind you, but there are a number of teams that are potential trade fits for Sanchez.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim stand out as one pitching-needy team. San Diego is in the same boat in terms of lack of starting depth.

Next: Justin Wilson Linked with Rangers

Elsewhere, the Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds could all conceivably use another starter or two.