Tigers send Anibal Sanchez to Triple-A

Bullpen work hasn’t suited Anibal Sanchez, so the Detroit Tigers have sent him down to Triple-A.

With a nice, round 9.00 ERA and a 2.05 WHIP over 11 relief appearances this season, Anibal Sanchez is clearly not built to pitch out of the bullpen. So the Detroit Tigers were forced to make a tough decision, sending the 33-year old down to Triple-A Toledo on Monday. Warwick Saupold has been recalled to take Sanchez’s place as a long man in the Tigers’ bullpen.

Sanchez’s lengthy big league tenure means he had to agree to the demotion. Tigers’ manager Brad Ausmus suggested it’s something Sanchez wants to do.

"“It was something that he wanted to do in terms of stretching his arm back out, getting his pitch count back up and getting into more of a routine as a starter,” Ausmus said. “So after discussing it with him after 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 in the major leagues.”"

Sanchez made nine appearances out of Detroit’s bullpen last season, on his way to a career-worst 5.87 ERA over 35 total appearances (153.1 innings). Since leading the American League with a 2.57 ERA in 2013, Sanchez’s recent seasons has been marked by injuries and inconsistency.

Sanchez is making $16.8 million this season, and $16 million next year with a $5 million buyout. He is slated to make his first start for Toledo on Tuesday, as an expensive minor leaguer, but if he pitches well a return to the big leagues in a role he’s used to could come quickly.

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After beating out Sanchez for the spot during spring training, Matt Boyd has struggled as Detroit’s No. 5 starter with a 5.36 ERA in nine starts this season. Sanchez may simply need to be stretched out with more pitches and innings to make himself a suitable replacement, and that can be done now.