Blue Jays release former All-Star after epic failure of a rebound attempt in Triple-A

Aaron Sanchez's comeback attempt ended on Tuesday when he was released from his minor-league deal.

Toronto Blue Jays have released former All-Star starter Aaron Sanchez from Triple-A
Toronto Blue Jays have released former All-Star starter Aaron Sanchez from Triple-A / Elsa/GettyImages

A chapter of Toronto Blue Jays history has officially closed after Aaron Sanchez was released by the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Tuesday, as reported by Sportnet's Blake Murphy and confirmed by the club's transaction logs.

After signing a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays in May, the 32-year-old Sanchez made 14 starts for the Bisons. It didn't go well. The right-hander finished with a 7.92 ERA and 1.68 WHIP while striking out 41 and walking 39 in 61 1/3 innings.

Aaron Sanchez could never live up to his 2016 All-Star season for the Blue Jays

When Sanchez rejoined the organization that drafted him 34th overall in 2010, memories of his early years came flooding back. After debuting in 2014, he was an integral part of the 2015 and 2016 Blue Jays teams that made back-to-back ALCS appearances. He pitched to a 3.32 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 19 innings in 11 post-season games.

The team and fans thought Sanchez would be a cornerstone rotation piece for years to come after his dominant 2016 season. He went 15-2 with an AL-best 3.00 ERA, earned an All-Star nod and finished seventh in AL Cy Young voting that year. Little did we know that would be the peak of his MLB career.

Injuries, primarily fingernail problems and blisters, derailed what once looked like a promising career. Sanchez struggled to stay on the field in 2017 and 2018, throwing a combined 141 innings with a 4.72 ERA. The former All-Star struggled to a 6.07 ERA before being traded to the Houston Astros in 2019 as part of the package for outfielder Derek Fisher.

Sanchez appeared in 24 games for the San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals and Minnesota Twins across 2021 and 2022, but found little success on the big league mound, posting a 5.29 ERA.

The fallen star pitched for the Twins' and Arizona Diamondbacks' Triple-A affiliates in 2023, struggling to a 5.54 ERA, before catching on with the Blue Jays this season for one last hoorah. Unfortunately, the comeback bid wasn't meant to be. It's likely the last we'll hear of Sanchez in Toronto.