Astros non-tender Aaron Sanchez

The Houston Astros non-tendered right-hander Aaron Sanchez, it was announced Monday.

Houston acquired Sanchez from the Toronto Blue Jays at the July 31 trade deadline along with two other players in exchange for outfielder Derek Fisher. In his first start for Houston, Sanchez threw the first six innings of a four-pitcher combined no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners. However, the 27-year-old made just three more starts after that before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.

In October, Sanchez told the Toronto Sun's Rob Longley he would not be ready to resume throwing in time for spring training. It's now expected he'll miss at least the start of the 2020 season, Feinsand reports.

Sanchez, a former top prospect, first broke out as a critical piece of the Blue Jays' bullpen during their run to the ALCS in 2015. He returned to the rotation the following year and earned an All-Star berth while winning the AL ERA title as part of another playoff team in Toronto.

Injuries have since stopped Sanchez's progress. Various ailments, including blister and hand issues, limited him to just eight starts in 2017 and 20 in 2018. Meanwhile, Sanchez has failed to post an ERA below 4.25 in three years.

This past season, he posted a 5.89 ERA, 5.25 FIP, and 1.62 WHIP with 115 strikeouts and 68 walks over 27 total starts with Houston and Toronto.

Prior to him being non-tendered, MLB Trade Rumors had projected Sanchez's 2020 salary at $5.6 million. This is his final season of arbitration eligibility.

Sanchez was the lone player non-tendered by the Astros ahead of Monday's 8 p.m. ET deadline. Eight other arbitration-eligible players on the team were tendered contracts, while reliever Joe Biagini avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal.