Cubs efforts to secure Anibal Sanchez fall flat – MLB News
It had all the hype and excitement that inevitably accompanies a big move. But what apparently a was a defensible basis seemed to have ballooned out of proportion. However, it is back to normal now as reality has set in.
Chicago Cubs’ attempts to secure free-agent pitcher Anibal Sanchez failed as he returned to the Detroit Tigers on a five-year deal worth $80 million. Had he been added to the Cubs’ rotation, the club would have an entirely different outlook defensively.
After the addition of Scott Feldman and Scott Baker, the veterans, Anibal Sanchez would bring a great deal of power and experience to the starting pitching. As Matt Garza recently started throwing after he was pulled off from the lineup due to the elbow problems, the Cubs are eyeing a stronger show in the upcoming season as far as pitching is concerned.
It was in this context that signing Anibal Sanchez drew attention. It would be the first major signing by the Cubs president of baseball operations ever since he took charge. But all that optimism and excitement disappeared in thin air when the news of Sanchez being signed by Tigers came to fore.
Cubs bid for Sanchez started after it was reported that the Tigers had offered Sanchez $48 million deal which the pitcher’s agent said would ‘insult Anibal.
That offer was brushed aside as he looked for bigger contract. Less surprisingly then, albeit keeping it unofficial initially, it was the Cubs that looked for the deal. The Cubs’ offer was said to be $77 million.
However, the Detroit Tigers reconsidered their approach and offer. The Tigers witnessed a stronger presence of the pitcher in the recent playoffs where he held 1.77 ERA in his over three starts. Whatever transpired afterward went to both the club and the pitcher’ favour as Sanchez agreed to the deal offered by the Tigers.
Sanchez, it goes without saying, had a big offer from the Cubs. There were earlier some reports that suggested the Cubs had promised him to be the ace of the staff. Along with Matt Garza and the pitchers mentioned before, he would form an important component of the Cubs’ rotation, making it one of the strongest in league.
The Chicago Cubs will now be exploring more options. At a time when there are no few names of experienced pitchers in the free-agency, the Cubs’ search would understandably be a tiring, and potentially futile, one.
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