Cleveland Indians: Three potential free agents to add as the fifth starter

Can Anibal Sánchez recapture the 2019 World Series magic?

The 37-year-old Anibal Sanchez is fifteen years removed from dealing a no-hitter in his rookie season for the Florida Marlins in 2006. Sánchez has had a very decent major league career since that debut season. It’s been a career pocketed with the occasional spectacular season, such as in 2013 with the Tigers when he led the league in ERA, and his age-34 season with Braves when he logged 136 2/3 innings to pair with a 2.83 ERA.

The question mark, however, is the body of work over his past five seasons. 2015-17 was the absolute nadir of Sánchez’s baseball career. He led the league in home runs allowed (29) in 2015 while posting a lackluster 4.99 ERA. Things got out of control in 2016 when his ERA ticked up to 5.87, before he completely collapsed in 2017 posting an ERA of 6.41.

Redemption, however, came in 2018 and 2019 when he rebounded in spectacular fashion. He made a return to the National League, first with the Atlanta Braves and then with the soon-to-be World Series champion Washington Nationals a season later. Across both seasons he posted an eye-catching 3.40 ERA in 302 2/3 total innings.

One of Sánchez’s appealing attributes, from an Indians perspective, is the impressive command he has with all his pitches. He allows just three walks per nine innings. Another big plus is his durability; between 2010-19 he failed to start 25 games only once.