Atlanta Braves Made a Mistake Signing Anibal Sanchez
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves signed recently released Anibal Sanchez to a minor league deal. Sanchez is expected to compete for a rotation spot. If the Braves allow him to take a rotation spot it would mistake.
Anibal Sanchez will join Atlanta Braves spring training and attempt to land a spot in the rotation. Sanchez just was cut by the Twins who obviously didn’t see Sanchez as a viable rotation option. Making moves to allow them to release him.
Sanchez has spent the last few seasons with the Tigers. The first two years he was a productive member of the rotation, for the last three he has been anything but. His consistency has to be admired rarely missing bats and giving up plenty of long balls.
SunTrust park is a homer friendly park that Sanchez would struggle in even worse, if the Braves were to give him a rotation spot. Bringing in Sanchez is confusing considering he doesn’t push the Braves towards contention and would push a young Braves arm from the rotation.
With plenty of veteran leadership in camp it is hard to see any upside to the move. Ideally Sanchez will only be in camp for a short time and not make the 25-man roster. The only spot that Sanchez could make sense is in a garbage time long relief role.
Aside from that there is no reason to expect Sanchez to make the roster. There seems to be one clear rotation spot open that Sanchez will compete with the Braves young arms for.
Sanchez finished last season with a 6.41 ERA and failed to provide value for the Tigers. If the Braves choose to add him to the roster they will find the same lack of value as the Tigers or rather didn’t find.
Sanchez had success early on in his career but the veteran doesn’t make sense in Atlanta. For a team whose focus has shifted from rebuilding to youth and learning how to win.