MLBTradeRumors is introducing a new series in which two comparable free agents are analyzed side by side. Each post will conclude with a reader vote on the value of the two players.
Starting pitching is always at a premium and this offseason will be no different. Two of the very best starters on the free market are Anibal Sanchez and Kyle Lohse, who ranked fourth and tenth on Tim’s Top 50 Free Agents List, respectively. Both right-handers pitched for playoff teams this season and have shown durability in recent years, but is one more desirable than the other?
Sanchez, 28, pitched to a 3.86 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 this season, including a 3.74 ERA in 12 starts following his trade from the Marlins to the Tigers. He’s thrown at least 190 innings in each of the last three years following major shoulder surgery in 2008. Sanchez is a true four-pitch pitcher (fastball, curveball, slider, changeup) who gets a decent amount of ground balls (45.3% from 2010-2012) and has actually been better against lefties than righties these last three years (.667 vs. .739 OPS).
Lohse, 34, posted a 2.86 ERA in 211 innings this season, including a 6.1 K/9 and 1.6 BB/9. He’s thrown at least 180 innings in the last two years and four times in the last six years. Lohse gives up a fair amount of fly balls (41.4% grounders the last three years) despite his lack of strikeouts. He’s primarily a sinker-slider-changuep pitcher who has been hit harder by lefties than righties these last three years (.737 vs. .688 OPS). That said, he’s been better than Sanchez these last two years — 3.11 ERA in 399 1/3 innings vs. 3.77 ERA in 392 innings.
I’m surprised it’s even this close. Would not get anywhere near lohse in free agency. He is a disaster contract waiting to happen.
Meh, Giants beat ’em both! 🙂
Yeah, i’m pretty sure that Free Agent value revoles around whether or not the “Giants” beat them or not. I guess all teams should stay away form Sanchez and Lohse then.
Pretty sure @55saveslives:disqus was just gloating, which is his right, as his team won the world series. When your team wins, you can do the same.
This is a site for intelligent discussion amongst enthusiastic baseball fans, not for “homerism”. He has the right; but, is it necessary? Please excuse the irony of my username.
Nope. This is a site for baseball. His team just won the world series. Don’t be so bitter and get over it.
I don’t know about Loshe, but Anibal owns the Giants (3-1 1.98 ERA) with 2 shut outs.
seriously? I’d much rather take Lohse, more reliable and durable
He may be more durible. But Sanchez is more durable
Original poster got it sort of correct. Lohse is more like a dirigible, as in full of hot air, along with his agent.
If Lohse would take a contract for a lower price, then him all the way. But the main problem is that he has never had a season like this before, and he is getting up there in age. So I would go after Sanchez.
I wouldn’t want to commit big money to either guy but I’d go Anibal Sanchez.
I’m pretty sure the Orioles are going to nab one of them. Most likely Sanchez.
For fantasy purposes you may as well go for the higher strikeout guy.
Anibal Sanchez in a land slide.
> Scott Boras is Kyle Lohse’s Agent
> Anibal Sanchez is younger and more durable
not even close. Sanchez any day of the week. As soon as Lohse leaves from St Louis whatever magic their pitching coaches seem to conjure will wear off to the below average 4th starter type of stuff he had prior to these past few years.
Sanchez: That 6-yr age difference between Sanchez and Lohse is what did it for me. Lohse has come into his own, but he’s benefited from a good STL defense, while Sanchez has had lousy defenses behind him in MIA/DET. Sanchez is getting better and should be the workhouse that DET needs behind Verlander in that big ballpark.
sanchez and its not even close.
age, a better strikeout rate, and the Marlins/Tigers have had some terrible defenses that did Sanchez no favors.
they’re both gonna get some really big contracts though.
As a rule, teams should just be cautious of Dave Duncan’s students. Don’t know what he gives them, but too many pitchers drop off significantly after leaving him.
Sanchez all the way. Younger, and the silver lining is no draft pick attached
Lohse was 14 and 8 in 2011, 16 and 3 in 2012, you people are fn nuts. Ill take the more established veteran over Sanchez. Yes hes older but guarantee Lohse is more productive over the next 3-4 yrs
If you are going to use wins and losses on this site to determine value…..you’re going to have a bad time.