Anibal Sanchez Needs to Be a Priority for the Miami Marlins This Offseason

Anibal Sanchez has solidified himself as a consistent starter over the course of the past two seasons, and he's showing this season why he should be considered one of the game's top young starters.

Through eight starts (54.1 innings), Sanchez owns a 2-2 record, with an ERA of 2.32 and a WHIP of 1.067. His "per-nine" ratios are all stellar—0.7 HR/9, 2.3 BB/9 and 9.1 SO/9—and he owns an SO/BB ratio of 3.93.

He will be a free agent for the first time in his career this offseason, and there's no doubt that he'll be looking to capitalize on his recent success.

There will be several teams vying for his services when he hits the open market, and the Marlins will likely be a main competitor.

If I were Marlins general manager Michael Hill, I would make Sanchez the offseason's top priority for the team.

The team's rotation has been strong up to this point, with Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Mark Buehrle and Carlos Zambrano all providing strong starts along with Sanchez. That being said, though, it's a bit of an understatement to say that this production was expected.

Zambrano has been a revelation, as the trade from the Chicago Cubs seems to have revived his career. However, it's hard to expect Buehrle to continue to pitch like this over the last two years of his contract.

Sanchez, at just 28, can help to anchor the team's rotation for at least the next five seasons.

Hill should see this fact and reward the right-hander handsomely. A deal of at least five years and $70 million should get a deal done with Sanchez, and the Marlins will be happy that they locked up their young ace for the better part of this decade.