Anderson was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett by Atlanta on Monday.
Anderson was sent down a week ago even after pitching terrifically during Grapefruit League play, but injuries to Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) and Kyle Wright (shoulder) means he'll make the Opening Day roster after all. He could wind up pitching important innings for Atlanta if he can stay healthy.
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Braves' Nick Anderson: Makes Opening Day roster
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Anderson was informed Sunday he will be included on Atlanta's Opening Day roster, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett last week, but he'll rejoin the big club ahead of Opening Day with Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) and Kyle Wright (shoulder) set to begin the season on the injured list. Anderson had seven saves and 22 holds with a 2.77 ERA and 136:21 K:BB over 81.1 innings during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, but he hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2021 while recovering from elbow surgery and a foot injury. He has high-leverage pedigree but will likely need to work his way up to those opportunities.
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Braves' Nick Anderson: Could make Opening Day bullpen
Rotowire
Anderson could wind up being on the Opening Day roster with Raisel Iglesias set to begin the season on the injured list after being diagnosed with shoulder inflammation Thursday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
He already got optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, but Iglesias' injury changes the bullpen picture for Atlanta and opens up a spot. Anderson didn't pitch in the majors at all last year after undergoing elbow surgery in October 2021, but he has a career 39.6 percent strikeout rate in the majors over 87.1 innings and has posted an 11:1 K:BB over eight frames this spring. The 32-year-old could work his way into a high-leverage role once he shows he's all the way back, although A.J. Minter and Joe Jimenez are expected to handle the bulk of the closing duties in Iglesias' absence.
Atlanta optioned Anderson to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.
Anderson pitched well in the Grapefruit League before the demotion with a 2.57 ERA and 11:1 K:BB over his six appearances. The right-hander has been riddled with injuries over the past few seasons, but has a real shot of being a contributor for Atlanta by the time 2023 comes to a close.
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Braves' Nick Anderson: Set for spring debut
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Anderson (foot) is scheduled to appear in relief in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Anderson ended the 2022 season on the 60-day injured list while he recovered from a bout with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, but after being cut loose by the Rays and then joining Atlanta on a one-year deal in November, he's seemingly back to full health at spring training. The right-hander will still have to perform well Wednesday and in his subsequent Grapefruit League appearances to lock down a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day bullpen, but when healthy, Anderson has shown the ability to be a dominant reliever. He was a notable performer during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign in particular, logging a 0.55 ERA, 0.49 WHIP and 26:3 K:BB in 16.1 innings for Tampa Bay that season.
Anderson signed a one-year, $875,000 deal with the Braves on Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Anderson last played in the majors for Tampa Bay in 2021, recording a 4.50 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over just six innings of work. He spent all of last season in Triple-A Durham with a 5.63 ERA and 1.44 WHIP through 16 innings. He will likely have to fight for a spot in the Braves' bullpen or be sent down to Triple-A again, at which point the value of his contract drops to $180,000.
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Nick Anderson: Hits free agency
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Anderson cleared outright waivers and became a free agent Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Anderson has made only six big-league appearances over the past two seasons while dealing with injuries, leading Tampa Bay to remove him from the 40-man roster. The right-hander had a 2.77 ERA across 81.1 innings between 2019 and 2020, so he should receive an opportunity somewhere for next season, though he may have to settle for a minor-league deal.
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Rays' Nick Anderson: Dropped from 40-man roster
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The Rays reinstated Anderson (foot) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday and designated him for assignment, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Tampa Bay didn't plan on tendering Anderson a contract for 2023 after injuries cost him most of the past two seasons, so he'll lose his spot on the 40-man roster and will now be available to MLB's other 29 teams via waivers. Anderson is arbitration-eligible for the next three years and likely won't be in store for a major salary increase after earning $845,000 in 2022, potentially making him an appealing flier for a team with less bullpen depth than the Rays. Anderson is just two years removed from collecting six saves and six holds while pitching to an 0.55 ERA and 0.49 WHIP over 16.1 innings in relief during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.
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Rays' Nick Anderson: Placed on 60-day IL
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The Rays recalled Anderson (foot) from Triple-A Durham and placed him on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Anderson was sent down to Durham in late August but was recently shut down for the remainder of the season due to plantar fasciitis in his right foot. His placement on the injured list will help to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Dusten Knight, whose contract was selected Wednesday. Anderson's foot issue isn't considered significant, so it seems likely that he'll have a relatively normal offseason program.
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Rays' Nick Anderson: Shut down for season
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Anderson, who was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Aug. 22, won't pitch again this season after recently dealing with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
After performing as arguably one of the Rays' top relievers during the team's 2019 and 2020 postseason runs, Anderson has struggled to stay healthy over the subsequent two seasons. He spent the first four and half months of the current season on the injured list while recovering from the elbow surgery he underwent last October, and he had struggled to regain top form since returning to action for Durham. He logged a 5.63 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB in 16 innings for Durham before making his 17th and final appearance for the affiliate Sept. 10. The foot issue isn't considered a major concern, but he'll get a head start on his offseason nonetheless. The Rays may face a tough decision on whether to tender Anderson a contract heading into the 2023 season.
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Rays' Nick Anderson: Activated and optioned
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The Rays reinstated Anderson (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Monday and optioned him to Triple-A Durham, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Anderson is healthy again after making a full recovery from the right elbow surgery he underwent last October, but the Rays presumably want him to sharpen his command at Triple-A before bringing him back in the big-league bullpen. Over his eight rehab appearances for Durham prior to being reinstated from the IL, Anderson compiled a 0.88 WHIP and 7:2 K:BB across eight innings but allowed three home runs.
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Rays' Nick Anderson: Rehab moving to Triple-A
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Anderson (elbow) will report to Triple-A Durham on Saturday to continue his rehab assignment, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Anderson began his rehab assignment last week in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, and he'll move up to the Triple-A level after making two appearances in the FCL. The veteran right-hander was limited to six innings last year due to elbow issues and underwent surgery in October, so he'll likely require a couple weeks in the upper minors before being cleared to rejoin the Rays.
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Rays' Nick Anderson: Making progress
Rotowire
Anderson (elbow) is on track to throw in a Florida Complex League game later this month, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It has taken awhile for Anderson to recover from the elbow procedure he underwent last October, but he has seemingly made good progress of late. He's scheduled to face live hitters Tuesday, and if all goes well in the next two weeks, the Rays are hoping he will pitch in a FCL game July 26.
Anderson will meet with a doctor on Tuesday about his continuing elbow discomfort, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Elbow troubles limited Anderson to just six innings last season, and he's yet to pitch this year while recovering from October surgery. While he was able to throw in some capacity this spring, the issue apparently remains troublesome. He hasn't had a clear return date at any point, but the risk of him missing the entirety of the season seems very real. A clearer picture should emerge after his doctor visit.
