Current Contract:
Signed through 2007.

Became a Cardinal:
Signed as a minor league free agent on December 8, 2006.

2006 Season:
Sanchez reached Double-A for the first time in 2006, his ninth season with the Detroit organization, and struggled. He batted .181 with seven home runs and 24 RBI in 237 at-bats for Erie in the Eastern League.

Career Notes:
Sanchez first signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers in the fall of 1997. He remained with the Tigers’ Dominican Summer League Club for three seasons, making his first American appearance in 2001.

He controls the strike zone well, having improved his on base percentage in each of the past three seasons prior to 2006. Sanchez has very good hand-eye coordination and as a result, rarely strikes out. His power had finally started to come alive as his .524 slugging percentage and 22 home runs in A-Advanced in 2005 indicated. Overall, his career line is .250/.353/.430.

Photo: MLB Photos