Position: RHP
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 210 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 11/30/1987
College: University of Oklahoma
Drafted: 9th round, 276th Overall, 2009 (Diamondbacks)
How Acquired: Minor League Free Agent
Bonus: $85,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: Yes
Minor League Free Agency: 2024
Options Left: N/A
Overview
Anderson is a finesse righty who had a string of seasons, from 2014-19 with Arizona and Milwaukee, in which he was a solid fifth starter. He throws a fastball at 91-93 mph and relies heavily on a change that’s his best pitch. He also throws a cutter and, occasionally, a curve. Probably due to the change, Anderson’s been much more effective against left-handed than right-handed hitters, allowing .695 OPS to the former and .830 to the latter. He’s a flyball pitcher and had trouble with gopher balls at times even in his best years. Since 2020, gopher balls have been a major problem, both in the majors and AAA.
From 2020-23, Anderson moved around a lot, getting released, non-tendered or designated for assignment nine times. He consistently struggled badly in the majors and wasn’t very effective in AAA. The Pirates signed him to a minor league deal for 2024, with an invitation to major league spring training.
2009-13
Anderson moved up gradually through the Arizona system. He was never considered a top prospect, but always ranked between 11th and 26th in the system, in Baseball America’s estimation. Anderson mostly put up ERAs in the 2.8 to 3.6 range, and WHIPs from 1.0 to 1.2, with BB/9 figures around 3 and K/9 around 8. He had a very good year in 2012 in AA, going 5-4, 2.86 in 21 starts, and the Diamondbacks added him to their 40-man roster after the season. He had a lot more trouble the next year in AAA, getting hit much harder, which led to a 1.59 WHIP and 5.73 ERA. He missed six weeks at mid-season with a triceps strain. After returning as a reliever, Anderson wasn’t any more effective.
2014-19
Anderson opened the 2014 season in AAA and, after six outstanding starts, Arizona called him up. He pitched well over 21 starts, going 9-7, 4.01. He pitched about the same in 27 starts in 2015, although he missed several weeks with triceps inflammation. After the 2015 season, Arizona traded Anderson to Milwaukee. He made 30 starts for the Brewers in 2016, managing a 4.39 ERA despite giving up 28 home runs in 151.2 IP.
In 2017-18, Anderson had his best seasons, putting up ERAs of 2.74 and 3.93, although he missed several weeks in 2017 with an oblique strain. He cut way down on the gopher balls in 2017, but allowed 30 in 158 innings in 2018. Anderson had another solid season in 2019, missing a couple weeks with a finger laceration and putting up a 4.21 ERA.
2020-23
After the 2019 season, the Brewers traded Anderson to Toronto and things went downhill. He missed the first couple weeks of the pandemic season with an oblique strain, then got pummeled for a 7.22 ERA and allowed 11 homers in just 33.2 IP.
After the 2020 season, Anderson became a free agent and signed with the Phillies. He was on and off the injured list repeatedly, making just 14 appearances, nine starts, with a 6.75 ERA, and ten home runs allowed in 48 innings. The Phillies released Anderson in August and he signed a minor league deal with Texas. He spent the rest of the season in AAA, then became a free agent and signed a minor league deal with Detroit.
Anderson moved around a lot in 2022. The Tigers released him in early April, then re-signed him to another minor league deal two days later, then released him in July. He signed a minor league deal with the Rays, was released a month later, signed with the Reds in late August, and was called up two days later. He wasn’t especially effective at any point, putting up a 4.50 ERA in AAA and a 6.38 ERA in 24 innings with the Reds.
Cincinnati non-tendered Anderson in November 2022, then signed him to a minor league deal for 2023. In early May, the Reds traded Anderson to the Rays for cash. They put him on waivers a week later and Colorado claimed him. Anderson spent most of the rest of the season with the Rockies, although he missed about five weeks with shoulder inflammation. He posted a 5.75 ERA and continued to struggle with the gopher ball. He wasn’t effective in AAA, either, with a 5.42 ERA in 86.1 IP and 17 home runs allowed. Colorado non-tendered him after the season and he signed a minor league deal with the Pirates at the start of spring training.
Stats
Transactions
June 7, 2006: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 42nd round, 1266th overall pick.
June 8, 2007: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 40th round, 1216th overall pick.
June 9, 2009: Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 9th round, 276th overall pick; signed June 20.
November 19, 2012: Contract purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
January 30, 2016: Traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks with Aaron Hill, Isan Diaz and cash to the Milwaukee Brewers for Jean Segura and Tyler Wagner.
November 4, 2019: Traded by the Milwaukee Brewers to the Toronto Blue Jays for Chad Spanberger.
October 30, 2020: Became a free agent.
February 8, 2021: Signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies.
August 27, 2021: Released by the Philadelphia Phillies.
August 31, 2021: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Texas Rangers.
November 8, 2021: Became a free agent.
March 14, 2022: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Detroit Tigers.
April 10, 2022: Released by the Detroit Tigers.
April 12, 2022: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Detroit Tigers.
July 17, 2022: Released by the Detroit Tigers.
July 25, 2022: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Tampa Bay Rays.
August 25, 2022: Released by the Tampa Bay Rays.
August 27, 2022: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Cincinnati Reds.
August 29, 2022: Called up by the Cincinnati Reds.
November 6, 2022: Became a free agent.
February 18, 2023: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Cincinnati Reds.
May 3, 2023: Traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations.
May 3, 2023: Called up by the Tampa Bay Rays.
May 12, 2023: Claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays by the Colorado Rockies.
November 2, 2023: Became a free agent.
February 17, 2024: Signed as a minor league free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates.