Aug. 28: It’s a minor league pact, Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com reports. However, Kubatko adds that the Orioles plan to get Anderson up to the big leagues in short order, so a 40-man roster move to select his contract could be on the horizon in the next few days.
Aug. 27: Reliever Nick Anderson is joining the Orioles after opting out of a minor league deal with the Dodgers, reports Darren Wolfson of SKOR North (X link). It is not clear whether the righty will jump right onto Baltimore’s MLB roster or is signing a minor league pact to report to Triple-A Norfolk.
Anderson, a client of Gaeta Sports Management, spent around five weeks in the Dodger system. He signed with L.A. after being released by the Royals coming out of the All-Star Break. He spent the first couple weeks of his stint with the Dodgers in the team’s Arizona complex. Los Angeles didn’t assign him to Triple-A Oklahoma City until August 10. Anderson pitched three times there, allowing three runs (one of which was earned) through 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five while issuing a trio of walks.
Prior to that abbreviated stint with the Dodgers, Anderson occupied a middle relief role in Kansas City. The 34-year-old worked to a 4.04 ERA across 35 2/3 frames. That tolerable run prevention mark belied less impressive peripherals. Anderson’s strikeout rate fell to a career-low 19% clip while he walked nearly 10% of opponents. He surrendered six home runs, more than 1.5 longballs per nine innings.
Anderson is only one season removed from a strong year with Atlanta. He provided the Braves 35 1/3 innings of 3.04 ERA ball while striking out a quarter of his opponents last season. That solid showing was cut short by a July shoulder strain, but Anderson’s velocity has returned in 2024.
While the O’s are in a good spot overall, their bullpen has been shaky for the better part of two months. The Baltimore relief corps has a 4.85 earned run average since the All-Star Break. Craig Kimbrel has fallen into a significant rut. Deadline pickups Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto have had some home run issues, while setup man Jacob Webb has been out for the last three weeks due to elbow inflammation. Baltimore has Burch Smith and Matt Bowman, each of whom joined the club on midseason minor league deals, in the middle relief group.
Shaky bullpen ….. Farm system loaded with “blocked” prospects …. Call yourselves contenders ….. And you don’t outbid the Dodgers to trade for Michael Kopech???? Baltimore ain’t serious about winning folks.
Kopech retired 25 of the first 27 batters he faced in a Dodgers uniform. He has a 0.79 ERA in a Dodgers uniform.
Didn’t ante up for Dylan Cease, or Garrett Crochet, or trade for Reynaldo Lopez. All we wanted was kids. Ya’ll keep wanting to hold on to all these dudes for some reason rather than win a ring.
A lot of teams need to reevaluate their scouting departments. White Sox were literally trading away a ring with Pitchers.
Yes, didn’t ante up for three dudes whose teams didn’t accept *any* deal. One of whom doesn’t have enough innings left in his arm to help the Os this year.
You weirdos who think real life is like video games where you just propose trades until the AI side accepts are something else.
However, Baltimore did ante up for Craig Kimbrel. LMAO! When Kimbrel was in Chicago on either side of town ….. I mean I saw dudes hit some absolute Rockets out of the park on Kimbrel. Had the seats not blocked some of those Rockets …. We are talking about 500 foot bombs. LMAO …. Baltimore ain’t serious about winning folks!
No one said that about them when they traded for Corbin Burnes. They lost 4/5ths of their starting rotation (currently) to injuries this year. Meanwhile, they didn’t give up too much to add Eflin, and they’re still neck and neck with the Yankees. They can sign an ace this offseason and resign Burnes. They’re following the Astros model pretty closely. You are way off the mark.
@Very Barry
Yeah, you’re completely right. The Orioles are also doing a crappy job of their attempt to purposefully lose too. And they keep putting players on IL too. Stupid O’s and their soft players. They have a full contender’s rotation and pen but are 8 games up get a postseason spot.
O’s need to study how Jerry Reinsdorf is doing it. He is brilliant at being awful. Maybe they should have made a run at Perry in Anaheim too. Elias is terrible at drafting. He should swing a trade to pick up Trout for 30 games/yr of CF before it’s too late.
If all you are willing to do is trade for Corbin Burnes …. Then you ain’t serious about winning. Bad bullpen and you let the Dodgers get Kopech at a steep discount. Closer situation solved the this year and next at the price $$$ you want to pay …… Instead …. You sign Nick Rodriguez …. What does that get you in the Playoffs????
They spent about 10 years doing more losing than what the White Sox have. Let’s not act like this thing didn’t take forever!
Ya’ll ain’t serious about winning. At least the White Sox quit fooling themselves they could win, and shifted back to rebuild mode. Extract maximum value from players who still have some control left. Rather than holding them for nothing.
God almighty, the stupid is out in spades. Shut up Barry.
@holding bases …. “Neck and Neck with the Yankees??? Regular Season ain’t the Playoffs son. They are gonna be rolling on Cole and Rodon (another White Sox product). You got nothing but Burnes. What happens if Burnes leaves as a free agent? He is the only ace is the entire organization. If you pay him …. Some other dudes ain’t getting paid ….
Name of the game in the Playoffs is to have 2 legit aces to roll out every single time they are available. At least 5 starts in a 7 game series. That means your opponent gets Eflin twice. If he is healthy of course.
Even if you shut Crochet down this year …. You got him next year. He made $800k this year. Go all-in on winning the ring now instead of trying to build a multi-year dynasty with players you can’t pay for.
Baltimore spent an extended period as one of the true bottom feeders in baseball before Oakland came along.
Nobody is trying to deal with Wheeler and Nola in the Playoffs.
Is this doofus an easy mute or the easiest mute ever?
He’s both a troll and stupid soooo yeah
When a guy has more comments on a thread than everyone else combined, it’s an easy mute
You can’t say the Orioles “let” the Dodgers get Kopech. GM’s don’t exactly share with each other the other contender’s offers. They made several moves to improve their bullpen- Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez- neither of which are slouches.
I honestly don’t think you follow Baltimore…at all. Burnes and Gray-Rod will make a fine 1-2 in the playoffs, with Eflin a very capable #3.
Soto is a slouch. That trade was horrible & I can’t believe it cost Seth Johnson. No control and has been absolutely battered.
Maybe we fix him in the offseason but it looks like another Fujinami. Just way more expensive.
No team can anticipate the unprecedented wave of injuries experienced by the Os this year. Your comment is drivel.
Well, that’s not entirely true. The Atlanta Braves and even the LA Dodgers would like a word.
Thankfully the Royals tossed this guy aside after they traded for Hunter Harvey. 1D checkers baby
Is there a rule that every mlb pitching staff must have an Anderson on the roster. )
You know who you shouldn’t take seriously folks, especially when he says anything about the Baltimore Orioles, folks…Very Barry, that’s who, folks…
The other Other Barry.
Also, Denunzio, LFGMets, and Mets6986?
All idiots
@SewaldSwansonSwoon You’re just upset that I’m right 99% of the time. Just say that you can’t handle that I’m a baseball expert. Not everyone can be as smart as me
Proving me right… once again
I muted him. He seems like he’s one of the special people
Where were his hometown Twins on this?
Clicking the mute button has never felt so good.
“36 comments are hidden because you muted the comment authors”
Very Busy Barry