Relievers – RHP Aaron Sanchez, $500,000
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
A pitching staff needs talented long-relief guys who can start in a pinch and deliver a quality outing when unforeseen circumstances or injuries arise. Over a 162 game season in baseball, those kinds of things happen a lot.
Aaron Sanchez was excellent for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014. He did not exceed his rookie limits with only 33 IP in baseball’s second half. In the daunting AL East, the right-hander posted a remarkable 1.09 ERA in 24 appearances out of the bullpen. He had an impressive K:BB ratio of 3.00, proving that the jitters associated with large crowds and imposing hitters did not negatively affect his control.
Out of the bullpen in tense situations, managers want a pitcher who has ice water in his veins and is capable of getting the club out of jams. Sanchez appears apt at doing so, but can also handle a spot start here or there as well. Since 2010, the 22 year old has logged 77 starts in the minors including 20 spread out over Double and Triple-A in 2014 before joining Toronto in late July.