It has been a confounding few years for Blue Jays righty Aaron Sanchez, who has seen his promising career sidetracked by a series of finger problems. Of course, at just 26 years of age, there’s still every chance he can regain his trajectory — so long, that is, if he’s able to get back to full health. As John Lott of The Athletic examines (subscription required), Sanchez is preparing for Spring Training with ample optimism after undergoing surgery on his right index finger last fall. He first threw earlier this month but says he feels immense improvement already. Lott explains that Sanchez has found initial success with a steady, daily stretching program to prepare his joints — one that’ll need to be integrated into a new, broader preparation regime once camp opens (and the season begins thereafter). Pitching through pain last year, Sanchez exhibited some velocity loss and a distinct lack of effectiveness. Though he actually managed a career-high 9.5% swinging-strike rate, due perhaps to ramped-up usage of his change at the expense of his once-dominant sinker, Sanchez drew less grounders than usual (a still-strong 49.1%) and struggled with free passes (5.0 per nine) as he struggled to stay in the zone (career-worst 40.5% zone rate). Needless to say, it would benefit both the Jays and Sanchez himself quite a bit if he’s able to author a turnaround. He’s slated to earn $3.9MM in his second-to-last season of team control.
A few more notes from the AL East …
- Speaking of injured hurlers from the division, Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe tweets that Red Sox righty Tyler Thornburg began his offseason throwing program earlier than usual this winter, adding that Thornburg’s shoulder has “tested out well” in the early-going. Boston has done nothing to address its bullpen this offseason after Joe Kelly left to sign with the Dodgers and Craig Kimbrel hit the open market, and if that pattern holds, they’ll need Thornburg and others to step up and contribute more than most would’ve expected heading into the offseason. Boston president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski recently went on record to suggest that he doesn’t anticipate spending heavily on a closer, and recent reports have implied that the Sox may prefer to remain south of the top luxury tax line.
- There’s still very little certainty on the Orioles’ coaching staff, but Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com provides an update on a series of potential (in some cases likely) hires that could filter in as the Baltimore organization sets it staff. Kubatko writes that assistant hitting coach Howie Clark is expected to return in his previous role, while the organization may very well promote at least one staff member from the minor league ranks to help round out manager Brandon Hyde’s staff — specifically, Triple-A field coach Jose Hernandez, a 15-year MLB veteran who has since become a fixture in the O’s system. There’s other chatter in the post regarding how the Orioles may end up filling out their slate of coaches.
Sanchez should consult with Moises Alou or Jorge Posada on hand blisters.
If he is 100% he will be highly coveted at the trade deadline. Hoping for the best but expecting more of the same. Good luck to Aaron.
I’m waiting for Jimmer to come refute the claims his finger is feeling good.
One thing I do agree with is at this point if Sanchez cant start consistently he would and should excel as a 7 8 9th inning guy.
Although keeping him as a Starter would maximize his value.
As Toronto fans we can only hope Stro and Sanchez pitch very well this coming season so they can bring back young controllable SP prospects for the 2020s
^Spot on Turner. That’s exactly how Sanchez should be used. Let’s hope for the best. I won’t forget how outstanding he was in 2016, and even out of the bullpen 2014-15. The guy’s stuff is nasty.
Yeah when Sanchez is on he is great. Hoping for a good season. He seems like a solid guy as well. I wouldn’t mind if they tried to extend him if his blister issues clear up, he would be a solid piece to keep around for the rebuild.
Pickle juice and pee? I have no doubt #Shapkins will screw up the Stro and Sanchez trades, just like they realised nothing of long term value for Donaldson, EE, Happ, Grandy, Pearce, Tulo, Martin, Liriano, Osuna, etc. Let these jokers run a farm system if that’s their competence; they have no business running yet another rebuild of the Jays.
For some reason when a player whose contract expires signs with the same team they played for the previous season it’s not seen as signing a player… to say the Red Sox have done nothing in the bullpen this offseason is incorrect they have signed Thornburg they have signed Carson Smith ..they expect to get more out of both pitchers, who were injured last year, in the upcoming season.. and don’t forget they signed Nathan Eovaldi..one of the most sought-after free agent pitchers on the market this winter.. he will now take a spot in the rotation moving an arm which was previously there into the bullpen. ..sometimes you need to think about these things before you type.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but his actual quote was: “Boston has done nothing to address its bullpen this offseason after Joe Kelly left to sign with the Dodgers”
This is factually correct since Eovaldi and Thornburg signed before Kelly. Carson signed most recently but to a minor league deal. I am not a big fan of arguing semantics but maybe you should think about these things before you type exceedingly long run on sentences.
lol
Sooo..”He left to sign with the Dodgers”.?..He didn’t leave ..he was a free agent.. same as Nathan Eovaldi Tyler Thornburg and Carson Smith.. thought I’d point that out considering how much you hate semantics.. like I said think before you type..that was too easy
Zack Putnam and Carson Smith. They need more, but they have done some things. Smith has not been a factor, nor has Thornburg. One has to come through with something at some point. Hopefull Putnam is this year’s Ryan Brassier.
You actually think them losing the best closer in baseball over the last 7 years doesn’t hurt them? Yeah carson and Thronburg have had (1!!!!!!) Good year in their careers. Can’t count on them really. Their bullpen is god awful. This team IMO will not see over 100 wins
No one said it doesn’t hurt them, just that they have guys out there who could step in and contribute. Funny people only see upside in players who are on the team they like.
Asking Thornburg to throw too much is what got him hurt in the first place
Is there a bigger comedy/tragedy show in MLB than the Orioles? Worst team in baseball, no substantial player movement, besides some Rule 5 and waiver wire stuff, and they don’t yet have a coaching staff. This USED to be a model franchise. Now it’s a model for Comedy Central.
I realize there’s probably a TON of infrastructure work to be done, but we’re actually looking at the possibility they may under-draw the Rays this year. Really pathetic.
They aren’t really in a position to do anything other than what they have done though. They still need Bundy to breakout. There’s only so much teams will value in terms of potential so hanging on seems like the only move.
With Angelos seemingly yielding most of the his power to his children, the team might finally be moving in the right direction. They were also in desperate need of a shakeup in the front office. The dark days in Baltimore may have an end in sight.
12 months ago I would’ve agreed but they seem to be finally joining the modern MLB. The coaching staffs will be more to develop the next wave of talent than to try to win now. They can take some time to find the right guys.
There will not be any player movement. No one wants the awful contracts DD/PA Sr orchestrated, so they are stuck with them or DFA’ing them.
The upper management finally has bent, joined the rest of the winning franchises in the way they infrastructure their player development and minor league systems, and this year will be the beginning of a new future, pre PA. Hopefully in 3-5 years, they will be relevant again! But, I don’t expect this team to win more than 60 games this year, and that’s being hopeful.
P.S. No one will under-draw a Rays team in a Tropicana Field Scenario in the AL.
I agree with all of the above, and would add their financial future insecurity, based on the MASN mess. The ramifications could be huge; the Nats are already spending the money, handing out deferrals like candy at a Halloween party.
But you have to wonder if anybody’s breathing down there. There ARE things that can be done; theirs is a devoted fan base, their stadium deal might be the friendliest one in history (thank you, Larry Luchino). Whatever financial spanking is coming, it’s not like it’s (a) undeserved and (b) insurmountable considering their resources.
They could swap bad contracts; they could eat a bad contract in return for prospect capital; they could sign MANY FAs to pillow, make-good deals, with the plan of “flipping”. They could have made this a very active winter; likely would have at least given the fan base something to fight about. Instead, the question is whether The Bird will coach 1B or 3B.
And please, fans of any MLB franchise should have a giant BS-meter go off when their team talks about “5 year plans”. Or do you think the Sox/Yanks/Jays (even the Rays) are just going to sit there while you do your 5-year thing?
The stadium’s great, so are the fans. Not to mention my own personal favorite play by play TV guy; I’d listen to Gary Thorne read a phone book.
But they’re a mess, and they don’t seem to be in any rush to get out of it.
Love Gary Thorne. Would like to trade him for Michael Kay.
Gary Thorne is the best. His homerun call is going to be iconic for me. And I cant stand the O’s.
There’s nobody to trade now. The 40 man is full so besides some minor league signings or 1-2 reclamation projects there’s really no point in exploring that option. Pitchers won’t come here on a make good deal. Nor do we have the space to sign a reclamation project hitter. The only place we have a hole that isn’t filled is SS and the rotation. And Like I said the pitchers won’t come unless they have no other options or we overpay. We have a full outfield with Trumbo, Mullins, Mancini , Stewart and eventually hays and diaz looking for ABs so why add there? Why add a catcher when ou need to see the two young guys Wynn’s and sisco? Angelos won’t eat Davis’ money yet. That leaves potentially 3rd or SS for a signing and perhaps some bargain bin relievers.
I admire the fandome, but you’re aware of their record last year, right? Here’s the REAL 40-man, complete with guys who are there only because of their contracts:
P: Bundy, Cashner, Cobb, Frye, Givens, Harvey, Tate
IF: Davis, Martin, Nunez, Villar
OF: Hays, Mancini, Mullins, Santander, Trumbo.
C: none
Everybody else is a warm body occupying a space. They should be grabbing anybody who has a pulse; the 41st guy on just about any MLB roster is better than the 17th best on the O’s.
Please don’t worry about 40-man space in this situation. You could literally waive half the roster and they would go unclaimed.
I have a thought regarding Boston’s bullpen, particularly the closer role. We know RPs can be volatile, so even if the team did sign one there is no assurance the guy would perform as expected. Perhaps the team is going to let its inexpensive bullpen unfold and then look at one or more (more reliable with the season underway) rentals? That might be less risky and easier to manage financially.
Only thing is if you’re looking for solid, cheap relievers they don’t come at a small price prospect wise
Depends on the track record.
Hopefully Sanchez gets back in form – he’s a hugely valuable starter (and can hopefully stay as one) who can throw 200IP with dominant stuff if the finger issue is resolved. Would love to see that sinker/curve combination with the newer change for a full season, even if its ultimately to flip him in the summer.
Sanchez and Stroman, who will rise and who will fall?
I hear that Sanchez finger has healed well. The question is will it stay healed? If Sanchez can throw the curve again without blistering/bleeding I beleive he will mostly recover to his 2016 form. I think we can expect 13 -15 wins from him this year.
However Stroman is in a different situation. I think his quality starting days are over. I think he belongs as an elite closer. Of course the Jays are going to give him as much length as they can as a starter, and so should they. And he is a good one turn starter. Perhaps he can be a good opener. Oh, he’ll have a few good starts, but overall he’ll be a 4 in the roation if they keep him there. He doesn’t have the personality and mechanics to focus as a 2-3 turns starter for an entire season.
I wanna see him close.
People that comment that established starters should be converted to relievers know nothing about baseball.
> and struggled with free passes (5.0 per nine) as he struggled to stay in the zone
struggling for synonyms
I’m not a MD (nor am I an attorney) but I don’t see how a regime of joint stretching is relevant to a recurring finger blister.
It was the ligament strain in the finger that eventually shut him down. The ligament issue was caused by the surgery which was to remove half the nail. The stretching if the joint is to alleviate the ligament issue.
As much as I’ve enjoyed watched Sanchez and Stroman at their best, it’s been tough to watch them struggle through injuries. All we can hope for in Toronto is bounce back years from both and trades that bring back young controllable arms. But if i had to keep 1 or the other, it’d be Sanchez. Stroman’s chip on his shoulder is too big now, even for a massive city like Toronto.
Sooo..”He left to sign with the Dodgers”.?..He didn’t leave ..he was a free agent.. same as Nathan Eovaldi Tyler Thornburg and Carson Smith.. thought I’d point that out considering how much you hate semantics.. like I said think before you type..that was too easy
Hoping Sanchez can have a big comeback year so he can be traded for a decent haul at the deadline or next offseason.