Right-handed pitcher Anibal Sanchez has agreed to a five-year deal worth $80 million to remain with the Detroit Tigers, snubbing an offer from the Chicago Cubs according to reports on Friday.
ESPN and USA Today reported that the 28-year-old Venezuelan will stay with the club he helped win the American League title before falling to the San Francisco Giants last October in the World Series.
The Tigers have not confirmed the deal.
Sanchez has a 48-51 record with as 3.75 earned run average for Detroit and Miami over his Major League Baseball career.
He and Zack Greinke, who agreed to a six-year deal worth $147 million this week with the Los Angeles Dodgers, were seen as the two top free agents available in the off-season.
Reports on Thursday had Sanchez going to the Cubs in a five-year deal worth $75 million but that deal appeared to collapse.
That leaves Sanchez alongside Justin Verlander, Doug Fister and Max Scherzer in the Tigers’ starting rotation.
Sanchez was obtained July 23 at the trade deadline from the Marlins and went 4-6 with a 3.74 ERA in 12 regular-season games plus 1-2 with a 1.77 ERA in three playoff appearances.
The New York Yankees, who were swept by Detroit in the American League championship series, made news Friday by confirming a one-year deal with Kevin Youkilis, a 33-year-old infielder who formerly played at arch-rival Boston.
Youkilis is expected to replace Alex Rodriguez as the Yankees’ third baseman while “A-Rod” misses the start of next season to recover fully from left hip surgery.
Sanchez makes deal to stay in Detroit: reports
