Source: Sánchez gets two-year deal from Nats, plus 2021 option

The Nationals, in need of a No. 4 starter since last week's trade of Tanner Roark, have agreed to terms on a two-year deal with veteran right-hander Aníbal Sánchez, according to a source familiar with the signing.

The deal is pending a physical and also includes a club option for 2021. The Detroit Free Press reported Sánchez will make $19 million over the two guaranteed seasons (2019-20).

A longtime Nationals nemesis during a 13-year career with the Marlins, Tigers and Braves, Sánchez has mostly been a league-average pitcher (97-100, 3.99 ERA, 1.306 WHIP in 286 starts). But he became a big part of Atlanta's division-winning rotation this season, going 7-6 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.083 WHIP in 24 starts.

Though he doesn't own an overpowering repertoire, Sánchez gets by with a wide assortment of pitches. He throws a fastball, cutter, curveball, slider and changeup, none of them more than 38 percent of the time this season.

The wily right-hander also has enjoyed significant success against the Nationals during his long career. In 25 starts versus Washington (many of those while pitching for the Marlins) he is 10-1 with a 2.08 ERA. In 10 starts at Nationals Park, he's 4-1 with a 2.11 ERA.

In trading Roark to the Reds last week for minor league reliever Tanner Rainey, the Nats elected not to keep a longtime workhorse from their staff who was due to make upward of $10 million via arbitration before becoming a free agent next winter. All along, another move seemed inevitable to fill that sudden void in the rotation.

The Nationals will hope Sánchez, making comparable money to Roark, will outperform his counterpart not only in 2019 but beyond as well.