Four Available Free Agent Arms Who Might Help Your Team
By Matt Veasey
NEED AN EXPERIENCED FREE AGENT LEFTY?
Brett Anderson won 11 games as a 21-year old rookie with the Oakland A’s back in 2009. He struck out 150 batters in 175.1 innings over 30 starts that season. For that performance, Anderson finished sixth in voting for the AL Rookie of the Year honors.
Trying to wrap him up contractually, the A’s signed him to a four-year, $12.5 million deal in early 2010. Thanks to injuries, including Tommy John surgery in 2011, he would never live up to that rookie year promise.
Since coming back from the TJ surgery in late 2012 and moving on to pitch with both the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers, Anderson has battled other injuries. A broken finger cost him three months in 2014, while back injuries have proven debilitating ever since.
Anderson did not fare well at the tail end of this past 2016 season. He was given three starting opportunities by the Dodgers. Anderson then earned his lone victory in a relief role on September 29 at San Diego.
WHO MIGHT BE IN THE MARKET?
The Yankees, Mariners, and Pirates are among the teams who have been linked to Anderson this off-season. With his injury history, he is certainly unlikely to receive much of a guarantee beyond a spring training invitation.
Anderson will turn 29 years old just before pitchers and catchers are due to report. As stated, he is left-handed, which always leads to second and third chances. He also has 685.2 innings of big league experience under his belt. He made postseason starts in 2012 with Oakland and in 2015 with the Dodgers.
Having earned more than $46 million over the course of his career already, Anderson is now simply looking for a shot to contribute. His best role might be as a lefty out of the bullpen. But as an experienced southpaw, someone is going to give him at least a look for the back-end of their rotation.