The Washington Nationals officially agreed to a two-year deal with right-handed starter Anibal Sanchez on Thursday.
The deal reportedly guarantees Sanchez $19 million and includes a third-year option worth $12 million, according to Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports. It's also said to carry an additional $4 million in potential incentives.
He'll earn $8 million in 2019 and $9 million in 2020, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who notes the 34-year-old's 2021 club option includes a $2-million buyout.
Sanchez, enjoyed a resurgence in 2018 with the division-rival Atlanta Braves, authoring a 2.83 ERA and 3.62 FIP over 136 2/3 innings - his best performance since his 2013 season when he finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting with the Detroit Tigers.
The veteran right-hander joins the back end of a rotation that features Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and recently recruited Patrick Corbin earlier this winter. Sanchez fills a vacancy created recently when Washington traded Tanner Roark to the Cincinnati Reds.
Across 13 seasons in the big leagues with the Braves, Tigers, and Miami Marlins, Sanchez owns a 97-100 record with a 3.99 ERA and 1.31 WHIP.
Sanchez will once again team up with Scherzer, as the two combined to form a powerhouse trio with Justin Verlander for Detroit and played an integral role in the team's 2012 run to the World Series, ultimately losing in four games to the San Francisco Giants.
