Tigers’ Sanchez done for season, but 2016 unaffected

MINNEAPOLIS Anibal Sanchez is done for the season.

But next season will not be affected by the lingering right shoulder soreness that sent the Detroit Tigers right-hander to orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews for an examination Wednesday.

The examination went “all good,” according to Sanchez’s agent, Gene Mato, who said via text message that Andrews prescribed rest.

“Dr. Andrews said the shoulder looked great,” Mato said.

Sanchez, 31, has been on the 15-day disabled list with a right rotator cuff strain since Aug. 19. He completed a 45-pitch simulated game on Saturday in Cleveland, but was unable to make it through his 35-pitch bullpen session on Monday, scratching him from his return assignment Wednesday.

Sanchez could start throwing again around Thanksgiving, Mato said.

“The same soreness,” Sanchez said on Monday night. “I thought it was something that was going to go away as soon as I was getting my arm warm but just before I finished, like three pitches before the end, I felt bad and there was no reason to continue and I stopped right away.”

This season, he struggled to a 4.99 ERA in 25 starts, allowing 29 home runs in 157 innings. He signed a five-year, $80 million deal prior to the 2013 season, in which he posted an American League-leading 2.59 ERA and finished fourth in AL Cy Young Award balloting.

Both manager Brad Ausmus and pitching coach Jeff Jones didn’t believe the latest roadblock was serious.

“I don’t think it’s overly concerning at this point,” Ausmus said Tuesday. “I think he just re-aggravated the injury he had. You might as well cover your bases.”

Sanchez has battled shoulder injuries throughout his career, and met with Andrews last season following a right pectoral injury and this season, when the right rotator cuff strain first came to a front.

“I want to pitch,” he said Monday. “Always, I want to pitch. Always, I want to be there. Always, I want to do my job and help and be there for my teammates.”

But he will have to wait until next season for that opportunity again.

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