Jonathan Sanchez

Sanchez took a step back last year, as he finished with a career-worst 5.86 BB/9IP. His average fastball velocity (89.9 mph) was also a career-low, although not by a significant amount, and his strikeout rate (9.06 K/9IP) remained strong. Sanchez's season ended in the middle of August thanks to an ankle injury, and there were rumblings San Francisco thought he could have pitched later in the year. Possibly as a result, he was traded to Kansas City during the offseason, so he moves to the tougher league and to less of a pitchers' park. Sanchez will be a part of the Royals' rotation, and there's upside with his strikeout ability and that he's still just 29 years old, but his utter lack of control makes him maddeningly inconsistent. All those walks could lead to an ugly ERA now that he's in the American League.

Despite walking the most batters in all of baseball (96) last year, Sanchez finished with a 3.07 ERA and 1.231 WHIP thanks to a fantastic strikeout rate (9.5 K/9IP) that ranked fourth best in the league. He was especially impressive after the All-Star break, posting a 2.61 ERA and 1.159 WHIP with 101 strikeouts over 89.2 innings. Sanchez's fastball averaged a modest 90.6 mph, but thanks to an effortless delivery, it acted as one of the better pitches in baseball. All those walks make Sanchez something of a risk moving forward, and it's tough to rack up wins not pitching deep into games, but the young left-hander's ability to miss bats gives him a ton of potential. He hasn't had any past arm trouble, but Sanchez tired during the team's run in the postseason, and he ended up throwing 50.0 more innings last year compared to 2009, which is at least something to consider. He's a high-risk, high-reward fantasy option.

Sanchez had a 5.30 ERA over the first two months of last season, once again remaining an inconsistent enigma. During his final start before the All-Star break, however, he pitched perhaps the best game of any pitcher in baseball in 2009, a no-hitter with an 11:0 K:BB ratio against the Padres on July 11. In fact, only an error prevented a perfect game. From that point forward, Sanchez had a 3.83 ERA, 1.240 WHIP and a remarkable 10.4 K/9IP strikeout rate. His control actually took a step back in 2009, as his walk rate (4.85 BB/9IP) was among the worst in baseball. If he doesn’t drastically improve in that area moving forward, there’s little doubt he’ll remain frustratingly inconsistent, but if Sanchez improves his control, there’s some serious upside. His fastball velocity is actually modest (averaged 91.7 mph in 2009) for someone with his strikeout ability, but with an effortless delivery and a devastating slider, his ability to miss bats is elite. Sanchez is a possible trade candidate, but he’ll have a spot in a starting rotation either way in 2010.

Sanchez went 9-12 with a 5.01 ERA and 1.45 WHIP during the 2008 season. Sanchez still walks far too many batters, but he racked up 157 strikeouts over 158 innings, revealing plenty of upside. In June, he recorded a 3.10 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP while fanning 39 batters over 40.2 innings. Sanchez wore down badly after that, as arm troubles and a huge increase in workload were factors. He has far more potential than the end line appears, but he's an injury risk and needs to really improve his control. He's something of a sleeper entering 2009, but the Giants may try to trade him for a bat at some point.

The Giants entered 2007 with the goal of not switching Sanchez back and forth between the bullpen and starting rotation. Naturally, the team had him start four games down the stretch after working him in the pen for most of the year. He suffered an oblique injury that ended his season prematurely, but that doesn’t figure to be an issue for 2008. Sanchez has a pretty good fastball and an excellent slider, so if he can continue developing his changeup, he has the potential be a good pitcher. Still, last year’s 5.88 ERA and 1.635 WHIP were hardly impressive, although his 10.7 K/9 reveals upside. The Giants had Sanchez hone his breaking pitches during the offseason, with the idea of grooming him to compete for the team’s fifth starter position during spring. He’s the favorite to win the job.

Sanchez pitched very well out of the pen for San Francisco last year but didn't fare nearly as well in the starting rotation. His 33:23 K:BB overall indicates he may not be ready yet, but his future does look bright. It's possible he opens the year at Triple-A, but he'll be given a chance in the rotation at some point. He's definitely someone to keep your eye on.