fb-pixelAnibal Sanchez stays with Tigers for five years, $80m - The Boston Globe Skip to main content

Anibal Sanchez stays with Tigers for five years, $80m

The Detroit Tigers made another major move to help their quest to win a World Series for the first time since 1984.

Righthanded pitcher Anibal Sanchez agreed to an $80 million, five-year contract with the Tigers, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press on Friday. The person said Sanchez is scheduled for a physical Monday.

Sanchez was a part of Detroit’s four-man rotation that led the franchise to the World Series this season. He had a 1.77 ERA in 20 innings over three postseason starts, but was 1-2 because Detroit was shut out in each of his losses.

''He was big for us in the playoffs, I just wish we scored a couple more runs for him and for our team,'' Tigers catcher Alex Avila said. ''He's a big-time pitcher.''

The Tigers acquired the 28-year-old Venezuelan in July from Miami along with second baseman Omar Infante for righthander Jacob Turner and two minor leaguers. As a free agent, he also was pursued by the Chicago Cubs.

Advertisement



Sanchez, a former Red Sox prospect who was included in the trade for Mike Lowell and Josh Beckett, got off to a shaky start with the Tigers, but improved toward the end of the regular season and finished 4-6 with a 3.74 ERA for Detroit. He is 48-51 with a 3.75 ERA since making his major league debut with the Marlins in 2006.

Justin Verlander leads Detroit's rotation, which also includes Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, and Sanchez.

Dickey on verge

ESPNNewYork.com reported that reigning Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey could be moved by the team very soon.

The big-spending Blue Jays and Angels are the leading candidates for the 38-year-old, who was a first-time All-Star last season.

FoxSports.com cited sources saying the Blue Jays are nearing an agreement with the Mets that would send outfielder Anthony Gose and a catcher, either J.P. Arencibia or Travis d'Arnaud.

It is not clear if Toronto has been granted permission to discuss an extension with Dickey, who is entering a contract year.

Dickey finished 2012 with a 20-6 record and a 2.73 ERA for the last-place Mets.

Advertisement



Sox barely avoid tax

Following its payroll-shedding trade to the Dodgers last summer, the Red Sox finished $47,177 under the $178 million luxury tax threshold — just enough to avoid paying the penalty for their spending.

The Yankees were hit with an $18.9 million luxury tax, the 10th consecutive year they will pay the penalty.

The Yankees finished with a $222.5 million payroll for purposes of the tax, according to figures sent to teams Thursday.

The Los Angeles Angels wound up at $176.7 million and Philadelphia at $174.5 million.

Figures include average annual values of contracts for players on 40-man rosters, adjustments for cash in trades, and $10.8 million per team in benefits.

New York has run up a luxury tax bill of $224.2 million over the past decade.

The Yankees' tax rate rose from 40 percent to 42.5 percent this year and figures to climb to 50 percent next season.

But they hope to get under the threshold in 2014.

Wigginton signs

Free agent infielder Ty Wigginton and St. Louis agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract. General manager John Mozeliak announced the agreement and said Wigginton gives the Cardinals a righthanded bat ''with punch.'' The 35-year-old hit 22 homers in 2010, when he was an All-Star with Baltimore . . . The Angels scheduled a news conference for Saturday afternoon to announce the signing of free-agent outfielder and 2010 AL MVP Josh Hamilton.