FORT MYERS, FLA. – Anibal Sanchez used the word "roller coaster" to describe his 2017 season.
He began the season in the Detroit bullpen, but was moved to the rotation in June. He had four good starts, then seven in which he posted a 8.37 ERA.
He left an Aug. 16 game because of a strained left hamstring. His next start on Sept. 5 lasted five pitches. Kansas City's Whit Merrifield smoked a liner off his right calf.
Sanchez recovered to finish with four strong starts in which he posted a 2.74 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 23 innings. Now in Twins camp after signing a nonguaranteed contract that will pay him $2.5 million if he makes the team and $500,000 if he doesn't, Sanchez, 33, is out to prove he has something left.
"I've got an opportunity here," he said. "I can see the opportunity here, too. They are a really, really good group of players, offense, defense, pitchers. Everyone, they're really good. They have a lot of chances to [go to] another level, make the playoffs and try to win. That's the first thing in any team. Especially in this one, younger, stronger, faster. There's a lot of talent over here."
Sanchez is 90-94 with a 4.09 ERA in his career. But he is 20-30 with a 5.67 ERA over the past three seasons. The Twins feel they can help him with his pitch sequencing to help bring out his old form.
Manager Paul Molitor said he and his staff will meet with Sanchez, talk with him about what worked and didn't work last season and then devise a plan for this season.
"He always had a big repertoire of pitches, with deception in his delivery and the little Tiant move he does from time to time," Molitor said. "I just think, between his ability to command and work the ball in both directions, he gives hitters a lot to try to ponder."
