FEB. 8: The Phillies have announced the signing.
FEB. 3, 9:55am: Anderson will be guaranteed $4MM, tweets Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
9:40am: It’s a one-year, Major League deal for Anderson, MLBTR has learned.
9:10am: The Phillies are in agreement on a contract with free-agent righty Chase Anderson, reports Fansided’s Robert Murray (via Twitter). The Hub Sports Management client will join a growing stockpile of experienced arms vying for innings at the back of the Philadelphia rotation. His deal is pending the completion of a physical.
Anderson, 33, spent the 2020 season with the Blue Jays but missed the beginning of the shortened season by an oblique strain. He returned and pitched well in August before scuffling through a rough month in September. Overall, he totaled just 33 2/3 innings with a 7.22 ERA.
That unsightly mark notwithstanding, there are plenty of reasons to expect that the Anderson pickup could be a worthwhile, low-cost investment. From 2014-19, Anderson was a durable source of average or better innings, pitching to a 3.94 ERA and 4.43 SIERA over the life of 857 frames between the D-backs and the Brewers. Anderson’s only IL stints in that time were a minimum stay for triceps tightness in 2015 and then brief absences due to an oblique strain and a laceration on his finger. His arm held up nicely in the rotation both in Arizona and Milwaukee, and even last year’s absence had nothing to do with his elbow or shoulder.
Digging a bit deeper into his 2020 work, there’s cause for optimism there as well. Anderson decreased the use of his four-seamer in favor of more cutters and changeups, and the results were encouraging in some regards. He posted a career-high 24.7 percent strikeout rate that checked in above the league average, and his 6.5 percent walk rate was an improvement over his Brewers days, coming in well south of the league average. Anderson was plagued by a .362 average on balls in play and a home-run rate so lofty that positive regression is nearly inevitable (2.94 HR/9).
Anderson has been somewhat homer-prone throughout his career, but there’s little reason to expect such pronounced struggles to continue. Fielding-independent metrics that normalize home-run rate, such as xFIP (4.09) and SIERA (4.01), were quite a bit more bullish on him than his baseline ERA.
Anderson will join lefty Matt Moore on the big league roster as a cost-effective option at the back of the rotation behind top starters Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Zach Eflin. His addition could allow the Phillies to give top prospect Spencer Howard more time in Triple-A and to move Vince Velasquez to the bullpen, but it’s likely that each of Moore, Anderson, Howard and Velasquez will start games for the Phils in 2021. Teams are going to be more cautious than ever with workloads after last year’s shortened slate of games, so having multiple starting options is of increased importance. The Phils have also added Ivan Nova and Bryan Mitchell on minor league pacts.
Okay then…
He’s interesting to watch, to say the least.
anything that keeps Vince V out of the rotation is a big improvement.
I normally don’t say this but, why did the Phillies sign Chade Anderson? He has not pitched well in the last few years. There are a lot of starting pitchers available with a better track record. If I was DD I would have rather signed Julio Teheran, Trevor Cahill, and why not a reunion with Cole Hamels. However, I don’t see the Phillies signing another starting pitcher. Their starting rotation is already set up. I’m still surprised that Tony Watson is still a free agent, why don’t the Phillies sign Watson? He’s an effective reliever and if I’m not mistaking they need a left hander reliever since Jose Alvarado is a free agent.
Chase Anderson started 27, 30, 25 and 30 games in 2016-2019. He had a few issues last year. The Phillies are solid at 1-2 with Nola and Wheeler, pretty solid at 3 with Eflin and a hope and a prayer after that. Rookie Howard bombed last year and probably needs more time to develop. Velasquez has never been a good consistent starter. Maybe he can be a spot starter and reliever but he has not done well in any role so far. They just signed Matt Moore but did you look at his last three years in MLB. If they get 15-20 halfway decent starts out of him they’ll be fortunate. What they really should have done was gone after Morton or Happ. Teheren totally bombed last year and hasn’t been good for a long time. Hamels is worth a very small deal with nice incentives.
Had a few issues alright
Jose Alvarado is signed for 2021 at $1m.
Yes, it’s true. I forgot about him.
You were probably thinking of Jose Alvarez,instead of Alvarado.He is a free agent,like Watson,and I do agree the Phillies should either bring him back,or add another lefty.Actually think with Neris,Alvarado,Bradley,Rondon,Brogdon,and another lefty,the Phillies could end up having a decent pen.
You don’t like JoJo or Suarez as the other lefty? I’d like to see the Phillies sign Watson or bring back Alvarez. Would like to see Rosenthal too.
Anderson owns a career 4.06 ERA. I’d accept that out of him in 2021.
“Stockpile”
It’s a pile alright.
Maybe we can drive the stock price up.
#Andersontothemoon
Of poop
The stock pile…for you to poop on!
Man, I know none of these dudes are sexy signings. But: Moore, Nova, & Anderson are legitimate MLB starting pitchers.
No, they’re not Trevor Bauer, or whatever. But I can see any of those guys being as valuable as Odorizzi.
Ya know?
Moore & Anderson have had good seasons in the recent past. Nova never misses a start & generally keeps his squad in the game. Mitchell…well, good luck with him. He was one of those spin rate heroes with the Yanks. He was just never really that good, however. Been a few years, though. So there’s that.
Stockpile: “an accumulated stock of goods…to be used at a time of shortage or other emergency”
I can’t really argue with that.
But you do you, bro.
Completely agree with you, Duck. I don’t understand why fans react to some of these signings. With pitchers like Anderson, some posters don’t think about the rotation spot Anderson is going to take. He isn’t going to be the Phillies no.1 or 2. He’s going to be a 4 or 5. When you compare typical 4 or 5 production to each other, Anderson starts looking pretty good.
I kinda get it.
We’re all a tad bonkers about our baseball & football teams, man. I’m not insensitive to that.
Hell…I can *be* that, uh.
So we all want to see the best players. But teams are not compromised solely of All Stars. Ever. Guys like Anderson will get you through a season. That’s not nuthin’. He’s a proven MLB track record of doing just that.
Man, I’d’ve had no problem if the Yanks had signed him. There is nothing wrong with competence. & volume is going to be a Big Deal for every pitching staff this year.
Good take, Ducky…. It’s always a lose-lose for some of the causal observers. Option A– go big and invest 100 mil for 3 years of Bauer, and it is a “waste of money” and will “hamstring the franchise.” Option B–take a more prudent, cost-effective, depth-building approach, and you’re “cheap” or you’re “dumpster-diving.” Can’t win. I think, for people who don’t follow the game very closely, it is just so much easier to ridicule than to take a few minutes and try to understand a little bit about how this works. Every team adds at least one Chase-Anderson-type arm every offseason, yet people still refuse to understand why it happens.
Anderson has a track record of reasonable success in the majors. I can’t imagine him costing more then 3 million dollars either. Probably a decent grab.
Anderson has a track record of not being able to make it through 5 innings and giving up a ton of home runs. Only a team that plays in a huge park should’ve considered signing him.
Taking a glass half full outlook, Anderson had a very bad September stretch. Prior to September he was pitching somewhat fine.
Mind you, he avoided the Yankees in August. Not in September.
It doesn’t seem worth the chase for the Phils
trying to find some kind of joke, pun, or play-on-words here… hmm…. there’s gotta be somethin’ in here .. ah… found it… “chase” … good one.
Lots of walks and homeruns. That’s not a good combination in that stadium. But yo his credit, up until last year he was pretty effective. Decent #5 type if he can forget 2020.
The Jays grabbed him last year because he had been one of the most durable pitchers in the game. Of coarse, he got injured (oblique). He was essentially rehabbing in the majors. So I don’t think the bottom line 2020 results are very indicative of what he is. From what I saw, he looked like a guy who needs to spot his stuff to be effective. Decent changeup and curveball. Relies on getting a lot of lazy flyballs. But if he misses in the zone, those flyballs aren’t so lazy.
This is a good window of opportunity for him if he increases efficiency.
Let’s hope the DH doesn’t come to the NL. In Tor he was lit up. Better pitcher with no DH in NL
I would venture to say that ALL of us are better pitchers in the NL without the DH.
I am the same regardless of whether there is a DH or not.
I think the point was that with no DH there was no 9th hitter. So, one less hitter to face.
He was a home run merchant in Toronto. If he gives up bombs like that in Philly he won’t last too long.
It seems as if no one on the comments to any of these articles values a low cost, low profile signing. They’ve dramatically increased their depth in pitching this off season. Some will work out, some won’t. But not every move is terrible. These are the moves that Gillick made all the time. Worked well for him.
Do we know the cost of this signing? Like the Moore deal, 3MM might be high for a low risk signing. If this is a minor league deal with 1.5 if he makes the roster, this was a good deal.
4MM seems a lot to spend on a gamble.
At least he is a gamble. We gave Velasquez 4 mil this season.
It’s low risk low reward. Career 4.60 FIP
Philly fans is Ranger Suarez better suited as a starter or reliever. With a first name of Ranger, he needs to be a Ranger. LOL
reliever imo
Are you saying that there should be a lone position for Ranger?
Lone Ranger, watching approaching warrior tribe: “Tonto, we are in trouble”
Tonto: “Why you say “we”, white man”?”
Lone Ranger: “What DOES Kemosabee mean anyway, Tonto?”
Tonto:” Is Indian word for funny man who wears tight pants”….
Ranger could be a swing man but his role on the team this season will most likely be similar to the one occupied by Adam Morgan the last few years.
I think he could still start and actually had the inside track for the 5th starter spot before ST 1.0 was shut down, but he’s proven he can be at least a good RP and could even be a great 8th inning guy si I think they will and should keep him there.
Thanks to the dims… 4 million dollars to be horrible at his job.
I mean if he did what he did in 2018-19 I’ll gladly take that
I was happy with the signing, but then I saw the $4MM price tag. Seems like a slight overpay. Story of the Phillies I suppose.
Just think, for the 3 mil and 4 mil of Moore and Anderson, they could have sent 7mil to Hamels and brought him back.
I love Hollywod, but Hamels is just as big as a gamble if not more so than these 2. Look at the Braves last year. He pitched what? An inning? I suppose 2 gambles is better than 1.
my thinking is its $7 million for Anderson and Moore combined. if even just one works out and becomes a solid backend starter or a productive reliever its not a bargain but its not an entirely ineffective use of money. not impossible both work out through – Moore’s last start in Japan was amazing and Anderson was a strong swingman prior to last year.
Anderson isnt a swingman, he’s the definition of an innings eater. I’m on board with this signing and wouldnt yet rule out a Hamels reunion. As other posters have noted, the Philies have added depth to this staff. The hope is for VV to become a high leverage reliever at this point, and Girardi wanted him in that role last year. I’m not sure if it’s the front office, or VV’s insistence that he’s a starting pitcher. Regardless, they need to add another impact arm to their pen.
he did a little relief work with the Crew in 2019. swingman may not be the best term, but he seems like he could realistically handle either role if need be.
Figured that’s what you meant, wasnt calling you out on it. If you had your choice from the FA relievers left, who would you sign for the Phils?
Dombro is starting to the living embodiments of who Darkside hates. Sorry my guy. This is starting to look like the Rangers last off-season. They had a good rotation, but they filled it out with people who suck.
i dunno, the variation in production for Moore and Anderson is greater. Kyle Gibson is always going to give you about 4.50, but in theory these guys could do a little better. (though also possibly a little worse) its also not a terrible lot of money or commitment, and I think either has some bit of increased upside in the pen. (Anderson’s past pen work being particularly intriguing)
Denial is the first stage. Don’t worry, you’ll begin to have a grudge against Matt Moore two games in.
oh i would be less then shocked
the luster’s worn off, but I still think his work with Milwaukee waa promising.
I mean, they’re not “sexy” names, but the Phillies just keep adding pitching — good on em.
In Dealing Dave I trust.
Back end starter, better then Vinny V. Now instead of spreading the money through the back end of the rotation, after signing Moore, they should have added a legit Closer. I know 4 million doesn’t get you a legit Closer, but use the 4 million toward a closer. Colome, Rosenthal, Giles. If I forgot one sorry. I would say Colome at 32, would be a very solid add. 2yr-16m or at the most 18,20 million for 2. We have around 12 million left before we hit the luxury tax of 210m. Add Colome, a CF or a Bench player and we can be as good as any team in the East.
@eagles1191 Colome signed with the Twins. I agree that the Phils need more bullpen help, but Archie Bradley is a legit closer. Leagues better than anyone the Phils had last year. I actually think they still need more backend help as well.
Chase Anderson is the inverse of Ricky Nolasco
Last 3 full years ERA+ of 106, 104, 160 sub 1.20 whip 3:1 k:bb just dont go looking at that FIP!
Somewhere a tear rolls down Rickys cheek
I have no clue why Philly fans would be upset at a 1/4 here
I should have said early Marlins Ricky not thereafter for the young folk in here
Full credit to Anderson’s agent for securing $4-mil. Did not think he would get that much from any team.
Wow, first bad move for Dombrowski. This guy looked done in Toronto. Just awful.
The Phillies may get a few good innings out of Anderson but then the wheels will likely fall off.
As Guests says, Kudos to his agent.
This fits the Dombrowski model of having a bullpen that doubles as a dumpster fire.
Phillies fans better hope they put up lots of 5 run leads by the 7th.
I don’t know man, their bullpen is starting to shape up to the point where it may be pretty solid.
$4 million for Chase Anderson?????? Arizona just got Joakim Soria for $3.5 million and Cincy got Sean Doolittle for $1.5 million. Philly is a complete dumpster fire at this point!
so,I’ve been saying since the day I got my first patent on dirt, that the Phils needed arms, more arms, and after that, arms..
But, did I fish my wish? Time will tell..One thing for sure, Dave et al knows a poopful more than I do..
Do pitchers and catchers report on the 18th? I can’t wait..I love the game..
“These questions., and many others, will be answered in the next episode of ‘Soap.’”
Chase’s have success in Philly. I do like this signing, but it’s not the answer. They need more arms. Odorizzi, Paxton, Walker. Anyone one of them would be nice. Also some more relievers. I’m greedy and this bullpen needs help.
I’m still waiting for Chase Utley’s reply to my letter so he and I can hang out and maybe even have a catch.
Chase Anderson getting a major league deal while Nova gets a minor league deal. Someone’s agent isn’t doing their job and someone’s agent is doing their job. Huh….
$4million?
How many naked pics of Dave D does this guy have?
The Phillies are making the right moves to complete, but the NL East is very strong.
They’re still a .500 team in my book.
MLB has told all 30 teams they have modified the baseball..seems too many home runs in 2019.The new balls will fly aprox 2-3 feet fewer on long fly balls of 375′ or more.. How they accomplished this is to raise the seams subtly saying the size will not be effected.. They claim it will not effect the pitchers velocity..Bullcookies I say! I’m not a scientist, but if you raise the seams on a baseball, my logic says it could afford a better grip on the ball thus increasing that magical thing called spin rate..
I predict more strike outs, more ground balls, and less home runs..why don’t they just leave the game alone?