Doubt it. If this was true, they would have signed a bullpen guy, THEN made the trade.
They simply see Chavez as a much more valuable, affordable, and reliable piece in a contention year.
no one wants to run EE or JB out of town. they will be looking to get paid - i haven't seen any indication they will take a home team discount. this is likely their last chance to cash in. considerable risk, not unlike the risk with Price or Greinke. hope one of them gets re-signed, but if not, nothing wrong with a top draft pick in lieu of paying a declining vet FA dollars.
Last year this time the board elite was calling Sanchez a bust, a gas-can.
This year, they say he's a valuable reliever or 6th on the SP depth chart.
Me, I still say he figures it out and becomes a top flight SP by the time he is 26 (that's 3 years from now, btw)
the BB rate was trending strongly down through his 2015 starts. a 3rd pitch (cutter? change?) and the K rate goes up a couple of notches. and he doesn't need command, he just needs control (in or near the strike zone) with his movement.
i wouldn't give up on a 23 yr old with an elite fastball and improving control, and i'm sure the Jays FO hasn't either. a 3rd pitch and he's at least a solid MLB starter
thought pompey and alford were closer in age... alford is actually a year and half younger
that makes it very close, actually.... toss up between the two