NEDERLAND — Brian Sanches understands it’s possible that he’s pitched his last game, but the former Nederland and Lamar pitching ace isn’t willing to close the door.

    “I would like to be able to pitch next year,” said Sanches, whose season ended Tuesday, after the Houston Astros AAA affiliate in Oklahoma City missed the playoffs by one game and he wasn’t part of the Astros September call up. “I’m going to stay in shape and hope there is one team in the market for a veteran middle reliever who still has good stuff.”

    Sanches, who in 2012 pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Phillies’ AAA club at Lehigh Valley, Pa., and Oklahoma City after the Phillies released him and he signed a minor league deal with Houston, says he expects to be in limbo until after the World Series.

    “I don’t think teams can talk with free agents until then,” he said. “I realize my age (34) is working against me. More teams have started going with younger pitchers in middle relief because it’s cheaper. That’s what happened when the Marlins released me after last season. They told me it was strictly a business decision.”

    Sanches had hoped things would go well enough for him with Oklahoma City to be called up by the Astros. That didn’t happen, although he was pretty solid after getting off to a shaky start.

    “Except for the first two games, I thought I pitched well,” he said. “They used me a little different than other teams have, which was okay. In all but three outings, I came in with runners on base. The last two times the bases were loaded.”

    Between Lehigh Valley and Oklahoma City, Sanches was 5-5 with a very respectable 3.45 ERA in 37 games covering 52 innings. He struck out 41 while walking only 10. His manager at Lehigh Valley, former Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, said he felt Sanches still had good enough stuff to get major league hitters out.

    Sanches’ best shot next year might be with the Astros, who need help across the board. Their youth movement, however, might preclude them signing anyone of his age. On the other hand, it wouldn’t cost them much to take a look in spring training.

    “I don’t know,” Sanches said. “The thing is, there just has to be one team willing to give me a chance. In the right situation, I’m confident I can make a team. If that doesn’t happen, it’s been a good run and I won’t have any regrets.”

    One thing Sanches did rule out was trying to make it make with an Independent League team, like PN-G ex Lew Ford did.

    “I don’t think that’s something I would consider,” he said. “I love the game and want to stay in it, but not that way. With a young family, that’s not what I want to do. I’ve been smart with some of the money I’ve made, haven’t been extravagant in my spending and have the option of taking my time about what comes next.

    “I’m confident God will open another door for me. For now, I’m holding on to the belief that I’ll be pitching somewhere next year. If not, I live in a great community here in Nederland and I’ll just turn the  page.”