Tigers acquire Anibal Sanchez, Omar Infante and Draft choice from Marlins
DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has acquired righthanded pitcher Anibal Sanchez, second baseman Omar Infante and a compensation draft choice between the first and second round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft from the Miami Marlins in exchange for righthanded pitcher Jacob Turner, lefthanded pitcher Brian Flynn, catcher Rob Brantly and a compensation draft choice between the second and third round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
Sanchez, 28, has compiled a 5-7 record, 3.94 ERA (121.0IP/53ER) and 110 strikeouts in 19 starts with the Marlins this season. Opponents are hitting .259 (119x460) against him this season, while he has issued 33 walks. He has posted a 2.70 ERA (20.0IP/6ER) and 18 strikeouts over his last three starts dating back to July 8.
In seven seasons at the major league level with the Marlins (2006-12), Sanchez has compiled a 44-45 record, 3.75 ERA (794.1IP/331ER) and 676 strikeouts. As a rookie with the Marlins, Sanchez tossed a no-hitter on September 6, 2006 versus Arizona.
Sanchez will wear uniform number 19 with the Tigers.
Infante, 30, is hitting .287 (94x328) with 23 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 33 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 85 games with Miami in 2012. He has compiled a .982 fielding percentage at second base this season. Infante is tops among all National League second basemen with 278 assists in 2012.
Originally signed by the Tigers as a non-drafted free agent on April 28, 1999, Infante has seen action at the major league level with the Tigers (2002-06), Braves (2007-10) and Marlins (2011-12). In 1,027 games at the major league level, he is batting .276 (963x3490) with 176 doubles, 34 triples, 60 home runs and 350 RBI. Infante was selected to the National League’s all-star squad with the Braves in 2010.
Infante will wear uniform number 18 with the Tigers.
Turner has started three games with the Tigers in 2012, posting a 1-1 record and 8.03 ERA (12.1IP/11ER). He posted a 4-3 record and 3.16 ERA
(62.2IP/22ER) in 10 starts with Triple A Toledo this season.
Flynn compiled an 8-4 record and 3.71 ERA (102.0IP/42ER) in 18 starts with Single A Lakeland this season. He made one start with Double A Erie, taking the loss after allowing five runs in five innings of work.
Brantly hit .311 (56x180) with 16 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 24 RBI in 46 games with Double A Erie in 2012. He batted .254 (33x130) with four doubles and six RBI in 36 games with Triple A Toledo.
In a related roster move, the Tigers have designated the contract of lefthanded pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz for assignment. De La Cruz has compiled a 5-8 record, 4.86 ERA (90.2IP/49ER) and 75 strikeouts in 19 outings (17 starts) with Double A Erie this season.