Tigers still pursuing Anibal Sanchez, according to report

Despite adding free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter on a two-year, $26 million deal earlier in the month, the Detroit Tigers are still interested in bringing back pitcher Anibal Sanchez this winter according to a report by Jon Morosi of FoxSports.com.

The 28-year-old Sanchez went 4-6 over 12 starts with the Tigers last season after being acquired in a deadline deal with the Miami Marlins. He also posted a dazzling 1.77 earned-run average with 18 strikeouts over 20⅓ postseason innings, and did more than enough to impress team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski with his ability to perform in pressure situations.

While the signing of Hunter and Detroit's obvious need for relief pitching made the likelihood of Sanchez of returning to Motown appear unlikely initially, it's clear that Dombrowki and owner Mike Illitch want to keep a sizable portion of their starting rotation intact heading into 2013. Morosi indicates that Sanchez will try to increase his market value by waiting until top free-agent pitcher Zach Greinke signs, but right now it appears the Tigers are more than willing to shell out the money to keep Sanchez in a Detroit uniform.