Sixto Sánchez: Everything you need to know

Sanchez signed a one-year contract with Mexican League club Rieleros de Aguascalientes on Wednesday. He's still just 25 years old and was once one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, but Sanchez attracted little interest upon becoming a free agent in November, when the Marlins outrighted him off the 40-man roster following a six-year stint in the organization. Sanchez's career has been sidetracked by shoulder problems, as he missed nearly all of the 2021, 2022 and 2023 campaigns while rebounding from a pair of surgeries. He was healthy heading into last spring and secured a spot on the Marlins' Opening Day roster, but Sanchez was a shell of his former self, as he turned in a 6.06 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 35.2 innings for the big club before getting shut down in June due to shoulder inflammation and finishing the season on the injured list. He'll get the chance to work as a starter in Mexico, but unless he can regain some semblance of his pre-surgery command and velocity, Sanchez may not resurface in the big leagues again.

Sanchez elected free agency Monday, Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports. The Marlins outrighted him to Triple-A Jacksonville, but Sanchez has declined that assignment and will hit the free-agent market. Sanchez returned to the majors in 2024 for the first time since years of shoulder trouble, but he posted a 6.06 ERA and ended the season back on the injured list with more shoulder issues. It's not clear what his current health status is.

Sanchez (shoulder) will throw one inning or 25 pitches with Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports. Sanchez has been on the injured list since June 2 with right shoulder inflammation. He has tossed multiple live sessions since landing on the IL, and while he isn't expected to return in 2024, the 26-year-old right-hander will at least get some reps in a rehab assignment before the season is over. In his 14 outings (including seven starts) prior to landing on the IL, Sanchez had a 0-3 record with a 6.06 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 17:14 K:BB across 35.2 innings.