Cubs close to signing Anibal Sanchez, according to report

The Chicago Cubs are pursuing free-agent pitcher Anibal Sanchez and may be close to completing a deal. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the two parties have reached an agreement on a five-year contract, pending the completion of a physical.

Another report says the deal for the Detroit Tigers' pitcher isn't done, however. Jon Heyman of CBS tweeted reports that the Cubs deny a deal has been reached, while Sanchez's agent says the pitcher is still talking to other teams and that the Tigers are still in the mix.

Sanchez, 28, was 9-13 with an ERA of 3.86 for the Tigers in the 2012 season. In the playoffs, Sanchez started three times, posting a solid 1.77 ERA to help Detroit reach the World Series.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has also reported, separate from the others, that the five-year deal could total $75 million.

Sanchez holds a career record of 48-51 with a 3.75 ERA over a total of 144 starts.