Sanchez: Staying in rotation was best solution
Aaron Sanchez believes Toronto Blue Jays management made the right call by not moving him to the bullpen.
The right-hander has been dealing with a looming decision all year about an possible impending relief role to limit his innings count. But, after meeting with general manager Ross Atkins on Tuesday, both parties decided keeping the 24-year-old as a starter was the optimal result for both himself and the club.
"It was definitely a little stressful early on. But we sat down, we talked about it, and we came up with the best solution," Sanchez told reporters Saturday following a 4-2 loss against the Kansas City Royals. "We sat down in there for a while and we came up with something I wanted to do, with something they wanted to do, with something that we felt the team would like, too.
"I think at the end of it, it's all said and done, and I can move forward now, and all this is behind."
Related: Blue Jays prioritizing winning in Sanchez debate
Sanchez has now thrown 145 1/3 innings this season, surpassing his previous record of 133 1/3 in 2014. The conundrum lies in the fact that he's also been the team's best starter, posting an American League-best 2.85 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 22 starts.
To ease Sanchez's possible transition, Toronto also went out and acquired Francisco Liriano at the trade deadline from the Pittsburgh Pirates. But despite the acquisition of another starter, management still tackled the issue with an open mind.
"In these talks it was never 'We're doing this, we're doing that.' It was just bouncing ideas off each other to see what the best thing is," Sanchez admitted. "I couldn't be mad with the fact that we're having this conversation because if we weren't, then they don't care.
"So, I appreciate the organization and the front office for coming to me and approaching me with the decision-making."