Detroit’s Sanchez demoted to minors
Right-hander Anibal Sanchez, who is in the final year of his five-year, $80 million deal with the Tigers, accepted a demotion to Triple-A Toledo as he seeks to regain his form.
Sanchez, who led the American League with a 2.57 ERA in 2013, saw that figure rise each of ensuing three seasons — to 5.87 over 1531⁄3 innings last year. He has a 9.00 ERA in 11 relief appearances this season, but will return to a starting role with Toledo.
Sanchez, in his 12th majorleague season, had to approve the demotion. He is earning $16 million this season.
“It’s something that he wanted to do, in terms of stretching his arm back out, getting his pitch count back up, getting into more of a routine as a starter,” Detroit manager Brad Ausmus told MLB.com. “So after discussing it with him over the last 48 hours, he decided to accept it, and take that route to see if he can get back to being, hopefully, a starting pitcher again.”
Ausmus told MLB.com that Sanchez hasn’t been guaranteed anything.
“I don’t know what the endgame is, because we don’t know what’s going to happen,” Ausmus said. “It depends on how he does, and how our starters do here. There’s nothing etched in stone. We’re just going to see if this is a route that gets him back to being a starting pitcher.”
The Tigers have a $16 million option on Sanchez for next season with a $5 million buyout. Loney gets release: First baseman James Loney requested and received his release from Atlanta’s Triple-A Gwinnett team.
Loney, 33, signed a minorleague deal with the team Thursday after the Braves learned first baseman Freddie Freeman will miss about 10 weeks with a fractured left wrist.
On Saturday, the Braves acquired first baseman Matt Adams from the Cardinals. Adams was inserted into Atlanta’s starting lineup Sunday, blocking Loney’s path to the majors.
Atlanta general manager John Coppolella said Saturday that the team wouldn’t have signed Loney if it knew it would be able to trade for Adams. Briefly: Angels infielder C.J. Cron, who hit his first career grand slam Sunday, was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room for infielder Nolan Fontana, who was recalled from the minors. Cron was hitting .232. “Hopefully, it’ll be what he needs to find that swing, and find his timing,” manager Mike Scioscia told MLB.com . ... The Twins placed right-hander Phil Hughes on the 10-day disabled list because of right biceps tendinitis and recalled right-hander Kyle Gibson from Triple-A Rochester . ... The Mariners recalled catcher Mike Zunino from Triple-A Tacoma and sent pitcher Chris Heston to the minors . ... The Cubs recalled left-hander Zac Rosscup from Triple-A Iowa and sent righthander Dylan Floro to Iowa.