If the Toronto Blue Jays hope to sign Anibal Sanchez, it might take a change in team policy in order to do so.
Late Thursday evening, Jon Morosi of foxsports.com, citing “multiple major league sources,” said Sanchez is seeking a contract in the range of six years and $90 million.
The Blue Jays are one of a number of teams rumoured to be interested in the services of the 28-year-old right-hander. Toronto has a team policy of not signing players to contracts in excess of five years.
In addition to the Blue Jays, Morosi says the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angeles also have interest in Sanchez.
In 31 starts in 2012 between the Miami Marlins and Detroit Tigers, Sanchez pitched 195.2 innings with a 3.86 ERA and 1.267 WHIP. He walked 48 and struck out 167.
He has pitched at least 195 innings in each of the past three seasons, striking out a career-high 203 batters in 2011.
Sanchez made three starts for the Tigers in the 2012 playoffs, posting a 1.77 ERA and 0.984 WHIP with 18 strikeouts in 20.1 innings.