The Tigers would love to have Anibal Sanchez return to their starting rotation next year, but is he worth $90 million over six years?
According to FOXSports.com, that is what he is seeking. A contract like that would work out to be $15 million per season. By comparison, Tigers' ace Justin Verlander's 2012 salary was about $20 million. The 28-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.70 ERA over the past three seasons.
The Tigers will not be alone in pursuing Sanchez. Other teams interested include the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Rangers.
Who will replace Papa Grande? A 21-year-old with no major league experience?
That would be Bruce Rondon. NBC Sports is reporting that he is the guy the Tigers are pegging as their closer for 2013. Rondon is a hard throwing right-hander who moved through three different levels of the Tigers' minor-league system last year. In 2012, he struck out 66 batters in 53 innings of work. Can that success carry over to the big leagues?
Perhaps the piece of news most likely to have Tiger fans asking what is the front-office thinking is the news that the Tigers have made a contract offer to Jeremy Bonderman.
Bonderman, 30, has not played baseball at any level since 2010. After that season the Tigers chose not to offer him a contract. He posted a record of 8-10 with a 5.53 ERA in 2010.
In eight years with the Tigers, Bonderman compiled a record of 67-77 with an ERA of 4.89. Keep in mind the Tigers will already have a crowded starting rotation next year, especially if they can re-sign Sanchez. The rotation already includes Verlander, Fister, Scherzer, and Porcello.
In a year in which the Tigers will make making another push for the World Championship, is Bonderman a likely part of the puzzle?
