TODAY: Oakland has indeed selected Anderson’s contract. Righty Emilio Pagan was optioned to create roster space.
YESTERDAY: Brett Anderson arrived in the Athletics’ clubhouse on Tuesday night and is expected to start for Oakland tomorrow in place of recently demoted Opening Day starter Kendall Graveman, writes John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. The A’s will have to formally select Anderson’s contract beforehand, though they have an open spot on the 40-man roster, so they won’t need to make a corresponding move to accommodate him.
The news means that for the first time in seven years, the Athletics’ rotation will feature both Anderson and Trevor Cahill — two now-30-year-old pitchers who were once viewed as potential building blocks for the A’s. Over a span of two years, however, Oakland traded both pitchers in separate deals that netted Jarrod Parker, Drew Pomeranz, Ryan Cook, Collin Cowgill and Chris Jensen.
Since he last suited up for the A’s, Anderson has appeared for the Rockies, Dodgers, Cubs and Blue Jays at the big league level, at times functioning as a decidedly above-average starter but also dealing with myriad back injuries in addition to blister issues and a broken finger on his pitching hand. In the four seasons since he was traded Anderson has pitched a total of 290 1/3 innings — the vast majority of which came with the 2015 Dodgers (180 1/3 innings, 3.69 ERA, 5.8 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 66.3 percent ground-ball rate).
[Related: Oakland Athletics depth chart]
As Shea notes, Anderson had an opt-out provision in his contract, which likely contributed to the decision to bring him back to the big league level. However, one could hardly argue that Anderson didn’t earn the promotion based on merit, either; in four starts and 19 innings thus far with Triple-A Nashville, he’s surrendered four earned runs (1.89 ERA) on 17 hits and two walks with 25 strikeouts and a 65.2 percent grounder rate. He’ll join Cahill, Sean Manaea, Daniel Mengden and Andrew Triggs in Oakland’s rotation for the time being.
Guys with experience regardless of the injuries that derailed – in this case -Anderson’s career. The talent was always there though…
Anderson and Cahill together again
Still mind-blown they haven’t sent Maxwell and his nightmarish defense combined with a .422 OPS down or DFA’d him yet, especially with pro-backup/clearly MLB-ready/loved internally in the org, Beau Taylor hitting a healthy .855 OPS at AAA. Same goes for Smolinski and his also awful defense and a .425 OPS, but it seems Fowler is almost ready to come up, so he will clearly replace him.
I’d be ok with two righties and call up Phegley. Maxwell is F-ing trash on all levels.
Phegley is a worse hitter than Maxwell, slightly better receiver, but Beau Taylor is the guy who they need to replace either one of those clowns on the 40-man and just have him backup Lucroy.
I’m with you on that. I never understand the instant love the A’s had with him. He was not good last year and he’s been worse this year.
Looks miserable at all moments as well. He’s a cancer..
Good luck with that Oakland!
A’s are getting the old band back together. AJ Griffin is next or Brandon McCarthy?
Maybe Rich Harden is still in one piece
Anyone have Dallas Braden’s number?
Dallas Braden is part of the a’s broadcasting team and is with them all the time
Well get him stretched out! Long toss.
Did Dan Haren retire?
I know where to find him during home games!
Oh geez here we go again. A good start or two, injury to his back or legs, done for the year.
Right. A’s should already be looking ahead at who will take that rotation spot when Anderson breaks down. John Lackey and Scott Feldman should be getting themselves tuned up right about now.
Graveman wasn’t THAT bad. Bassit is also looking really promising coming back from TJ.
Lackeys pounding nachos with his buddy millar every day. You won’t get him off the couch for a reasonable dollar figure.
This guys a stud! Did they release Manea to make room for him on the roster?
It’s going to be wild if Anderson is actually good and him and Cahill form a great 2-3 behind the King Manaea and they end up contending.
I honestly believe Beane just makes trades out of straight boredom, this team spins their tires so much.
Funny that many pitchers were traded, yet the returning players did nothing, and the pitchers themselves went on to do nothing either.
Yes I know they did pick up some quality prospects in some deals, but it’s just a perpetual thing and they never stick to a plan.
Prospects bust. That’s the risk. Parker was a fantastic prospect who was derailed by injuries like anderson. Pomeranz eventually panned out as well it just didn’t happen in Oakland. Such is life for a team with a limited payroll.