Sanchez, Tigers agree on 5-year contract
Yankees, Ichiro reportedly close to two-year contract.
The Detroit Tigers have made another major move to help their quest to win a World Series for the first time since 1984.
Right-handed 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, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Sanchez is scheduled for a physical Monday.
Sanchez was a part of Detroit’s four-man rotation that led the franchise to World Series this year. He had a 1.77 ERA in 20⅓ innings over three postseason starts, but was 1-2 because Detroit was shut out in each of his losses.
The Tigers acquired the 28-year-old Venezuelan in July from Miami. As a free agent he also was pursued by the Chicago Cubs.
Sanchez 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. The Tigers pitched well in the playoffs, but their bats let the team down when San Francisco swept them in the World Series. Detroit was shut out twice, scored just three runs in the two other games and had the third-lowest batting average in Series history at .159.
Detroit addressed a need last month by signing outfielder Torii Hunter to a $26 million, two-year deal.
“Glad Anibal Sanchez back with the Tigers. Congrats Anibal. Now lets go get that ring,” Hunter tweeted.
Cardinals: Free agent infielder Ty Wigginton and St. Louis have agreed to a $5 million, two-year contract. General manager John Mozeliak said the 35year-old Wigginton, who has hit 15 or more homers six times during 11 big league seasons, gives the Cardinals a right-handed bat “with punch.”
Yankees: Ichiro Suzuki and New York closed in Friday on a $13 million, two-year contract, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The sides still had to finalize language and the deal will be subject to a physical, the person said. Suzuki, 39, will get $6.5 million a year.
■ Kevin Youkilis and the Yankees have finalized their $12 million, one-year contract, giving New York a third baseman for the first half of next season while Alex Rodriguez recovers from hip surgery. The deal with the three-time All-Star had been agreed to Tuesday, pending a physical, and the Yankees announced it Friday.
■ The Yankees have been hit with an $18.9 million luxury tax by Major League Baseball, the 10th consecutive year they will pay a penalty for their spending.
The Yankees finished with a $222.5 million payroll for purposes of the tax, according to figures obtained by The Associated Press. No other team was penalized.