Cesar Tordesillas

Free-agent starter Anibal Sanchez decided to stay with the Detroit Tigers, signing a five-year, $80 million deal with the team, according to his agent Gene Mato.

The 28-year-old Sanchez, considered as the second most attractive pitcher in the free agent market behind Zach Greinke, has a 48-51 record with a 3.75 career ERA for the Tigers and the Miami Marlins.

Earlier, Greinke signed a six-year, $147 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It was earlier reported that Sanchez had reached agreement on a five-year, $75 million contract with the Chicago Cubs but the deal never pushed through and the starting pitcher opted to return to Detroit.

Sanchez started the year with the Marlins but he was traded together with second baseman Omar Infante in the July trade deadline.

Sanchez went 4-6 with a 3.74 ERA in 12 regular-season starts for manager Jim Leyland, and recorded a 1.77 ERA while going 1-2 in three postseason starts.

He will join Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Doug Fister at the top of Detroit's 2013 rotation.

Manager Dave Dombrowski earlier said that Rick Porcello and Drew Smyly are likely to compete for the fifth starting spot.

 

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Tigers and Anibal Sanchez Agree to Five-Year Deal