Former Blue Jays All-Star standout gets new life after signing with Royals

He was once a star shining in the spotlight of the major leagues, but now he's just getting an opportunity for one more kick at the can. Former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez has signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals with an invite to Spring Training.

Former Blue Jays All-Star standout gets new life after signing with Royals

It was just over a decade ago when Sanchez was a key part of two Blue Jays postseason runs. Whether it be as a shutdown reliever down the stretch in 2015 or as a dominating No. 1 All-Star starter in 2016, the Blue Jays wouldn’t have made it as far as the ALCS without the dynamic right-hander.

More significantly, Sanchez appeared to have established himself as the future ace of the Toronto pitching staff in 2016 when he compiled a stellar 15-2 record, 3.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP along with 161 strikeouts in 192 total innings pitched over 30 starts.

However, his encounter with blister issues on his pitching hand ultimately derailed a once-promising MLB career as his effectiveness progressively waned in the subsequent seasons. From 2017 onwards, Sanchez amassed a dismal 5.29 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, giving up 216 earned runs on 403 hits in 367.2 innings pitched over 79 games played. That included stops with the Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals and Minnesota Twins. 

Having not seen any major league action since 2022, Sanchez had been working hard the past few seasons with hopes for a comeback by earning another chance at the big leagues. That journey also included a minor league stint back in the Blue Jays organization in 2024. But that didn’t end up panning out to anything as he compiled a 7.92 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in 14 starts with Triple-A Buffalo before he was ultimately released.

Nevertheless, he now appears to have earned another opportunity, this time with the Royals, after a strong showing in the Dominican Winter League with the Toros del Este. In eight starts, Sanchez posted a 4-2 record with a 1.55 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, giving up just eight earned runs with 34 strikeouts in 46.1 total innings.

Pitching in the Royals organization could provide the perfect environment for Sanchez to flourish, being out of the spotlight of a big-market MLB team. But at 33-years-old heading into the 2026 season, he will be looking to get his professional baseball career back on track, knowing very well that this could be his last opportunity to prove his worth in the majors.