Article: Twins Sign RHP Anibal Sanchez... No, Really

[Seth Stohs]

News came out late Friday afternoon that the Twins have reached an agreement with free agent right-hander Anibal Sanchez. The veteran will be 34-years-old before the calendar changes.

 

Jon Heyman reported the agreement - which, of course is pending a physical - and later said it was a $2.5 million deal with incentives that could make him another $2.5 million.Nick wrote about 24 hours ago of this winter of discontent about how the Twins have reportedly been in on Shohei Ohtani, and Yu Darvish, and Gerritt Cole, and even Chris Archer. There were, of course, other rumors that they may be talking to guys like Jaime Garcia and Chris Tillman.

 

In Anibal Sanchez, the Twins got a right-hander who has been injured and ineffective the last three years of his big, six-year deal with the Detroit Tigers. In his past three seasons, his ERAs have been 4.99, 5.87 and 6.41. His WHIPs have been 1.28, 1.46 and 1.60.

 

Last year, he asked to go down to the minor leagues to get another opportunity to start.

 

Hey, the deal is low dollars, and if he reaches any of the incentives, he can make more money, but that likely means he's pitching well. It's also highly unlikely that he'll be particularly effective.

 

The deal, according to Rhett Bollinger, is also not guaranteed.

 

 

The other negative is that the Twins will have to remove someone from the 40-man roster in order to make room for Sanchez. Is there anyone on the 40-man that you would trade for Sanchez? That information will be interesting.

 

Maybe there is another move up the sleeves of the front office. Or maybe they're just going to show a lot of confidence in the likes of Adalberto Mejia, Aaron Slegers, Felix Jorge, Stephen Gonsalves, Fernando Romero and Zack Littell.

 

For a team on the brink of perennial playoff possibilities, this is a strange move, especially when there are several other AL teams that they will be competing for a wild card spot with.

 

Maybe some of our readers can explain this one to me?

 

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[baumannmd]

I see what Falvey and Levine are doing here. Actually pretty genius. Sign Sanchez for $2.5M, then use the $147.5M you saved on Darvish to buy a time machine and swap out 2018 Anibal Sanchez for 2013 Anibal Sanchez.

[JustinCB]

He even looks gross these days

[Dman]

They are hoping he rebounds?  He might and I mean might as unlikely start the season OK but he has been very injury prone.  Doesn't feel like a good match.

 

I loved it when he pitched against the Twins.  Always knew the batters would have a good day.  Hopefully the front office knows something I don't.

[Deduno Abides]

Vegas just further reduced the payout if you bet on Buxton to win his second gold glove, because this signing will increase the number of opportunities he’ll have to make tremendous catches.

[Thrylos]

 

 

Is there anyone on the 40-man that you would trade for Sanchez?

 

Slegers.  Replacement level pitch to contact guy.  All day and all of the night.

 

Check out Sanchez's peripherals...

[sthpstm]

I noticed on MLBTR the last few days that a few players on other teams have already been moved to the 60 day DL to make room for new additions, which surprised me. So, maybe the rules now would allow Pineda to moved to the 60 day DL as soon as the signing is official.

[SarasotaBill]

I view Sanchez as an insurance policy.

 

Add another arm for depth.

 

Downside is he pitches terribly in Spring Training and the Twins lose $2.5 million. 

 

 

[big dog]

Oh good, more exciting news.

[Twinfan & Dad]

I've defended Falvey and have been a strong supporter of his moves. This one though has me scratching my head. I don't see where he fits. This looks like a throw enough **** against the wall maybe some of it will stick move. We already had one older broken down arm in Hughes.

[Thrylos]

 

I view Sanchez as an insurance policy.

 

Add another arm for depth.

 

Downside is he pitches terribly in Spring Training and the Twins lose $2.5 million. 

 

Not even that.  It is a non-guaranteed contract, so they lose his prorated month salary.

[curt1965]

Another typical, washed up, and inexplicable pickup by the FO. Really? I agree, Seth, someone is going to lose their spot on the 40 man that could come back to haunt these guys.

What it really tells me that a possible pickup of one of the remaining free agent pitchers is probably gone.

How about we try one of “our” guys first! Looks like Falvine has little confidence in our farm system!

[Squirrel]

Well ...

 

I got nothing.

 

No thank you.

[Thrylos]

 

 

Maybe there is another move up the sleeves of the front office. Or maybe they're just going to show a lot of confidence in the likes of Adalberto Mejia, Aaron Slegers, Felix Jorge, Stephen Gonsalves, Fernando Romero and Zack Littell

 

Pretty sure that they have another move up their sleeves, but doesn't this one show how little confidence they have on the above (and Dietrich Enns and Phil Hughes) at least as far as  2018 is concerned?  If they thought that one of the mentioned might rise to the occasion, there would be no reason to sign Sanchez, zero risk notwithstanding 

[Siehbiscuit]

I thought there was no such thing as a bad 1 year deal? He may not have much left, but if the Twins can milk the last little bit out of him and its only for at worst $5m what’s the downside? Worst case, the Twins wasted $2.5 million and 3-4 starts. If he’s know good, he’ll get cut when Santana is ready to return.

[Dave The Dastardly]

Shades of Terry Ryan! Empty the dumpsters, raid the old folks home, sign another has-been and keep the prospects down on the farm. The Twins Way!

[Tommygun921]

Haven't the Twins been interested in him previously? Now he's pitched poorly enough we can afford him? But on a serious note it's a no lose situation as it's not a guaranteed contract.

[TwinsWonWithHunter]

In a word, depressing. These are the kinds of moves we made back in the '90s, when we were just looking for bodies and arms because the game requires nine men on the field. I'm handicapping this year's squad at about 69-93.

[ChiefsKid]

Independent of any other moves, this isn't a terrible signing. Its a (cheap) flier on a guy who could benefit from a change of scenery, Target Field, and the Twins OF.

 

In the context of the current state of the rotation and the lack of any other help for the 2018 staff, its incredibly disappointing.

[ScooterDance]

lol

 

And not in a “haha funny” way. More in a “if I don’t laugh, I’ll weep instead” way.

[Brandon]

****!

[BJames]

He's a 2 month fill in, no big deal.  By the way why is ENNS on the roster???

[Brock Beauchamp]

I just threw up in my mouth.

[DocBauer]

I still believe the "big move" is going to take place soon, within a week, for a trade or FA. I'm still banking on FA.

 

This does nothing for me. But I also felt/predicted they'd sign another FA on the cheap on a 1 year or flier for insurance and depth for the first couple of months. The money isn't even spent unless he makes the roster. And who knows, maybe we get lucky. But really guys, this is just another arm with experience to fill in due to injury, both Santana's and any others that pop up during the spring.

 

Now....if they DON'T make another move....then I GOT NOTHING.

[KirbyDome89]

 

Pretty sure that they have another move up their sleeves, but doesn't this one show how little confidence they have on the above (and Dietrich Enns and Phil Hughes) at least as far as  2018 is concerned?  If they thought that one of the mentioned might rise to the occasion, there would be no reason to sign Sanchez, zero risk notwithstanding 

Thats a great point. If they have so little confidence in those guys and another move is coming then what the hell are they waiting on at this point? If this is it, or they're trying to scrape together another 1 year deal then, well.....

[theBOMisthebomb]

This is lame and depressing. Maybe Sanchez has something left in the tank. Why are we dumpster diving though? It does feel like a Terry Ryan move.

[ashbury]

Well ...

 

I got nothing.

Then you and Mr Sanchez have something in common.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I view Sanchez as an insurance policy.

 

Add another arm for depth.

 

Downside is he pitches terribly in Spring Training and the Twins lose $2.5 million.

the downside is he pitches just well enough that he isn’t cut and we’re stuck watching a train wreck every 5th start all season long

[Vanimal46]

You can't aim any lower than what they did. Awful.

[Thrylos]

 

the downside is he pitches just well enough that he isn’t cut and we’re stuck watching a train wreck every 5th start all season long

 

Well, if he pitches just well enough not to be cut, he would not be a train wreck, no?