Proper-hander Nick Anderson is garnering curiosity from a number of groups, in keeping with a report from Ari Alexander of KPRC2. Alexander provides that Anderson is scheduled to carry a exercise for at the very least ten groups on January 23. In the meantime, Darren Wolfson of KSTP 5 stories that the Twins will likely be among the many groups in attendance for Anderson’s exercise.
Anderson, 35, made his MLB debut with the Marlins again in 2019 however was traded to the Rays shortly thereafter. Upon arriving in Tampa, Anderson’s profession began to take off as he posted a sterling 1.85 ERA in 43 2/3 innings of labor with a 2.42 FIP and an eye-popping 42.5% strikeout fee. Sadly, these implausible fee stats got here in simply 43 2/3 innings of labor throughout the 2019, ’20, and ’21 seasons. Elbow points restricted him to simply six innings in 2021 and stored him from pitching on the large league degree in 2022, main the Rays to chop him free.
Since then, he’s pitched for the Braves and Royals on the large league degree. His time in Atlanta went pretty effectively; whereas his 25.5% strikeout fee was clearly a step again from his peak years in Tampa, he nonetheless managed a 3.06 ERA and three.09 FIP in 35 1/3 innings of labor. Anderson’s cease in Kansas Metropolis, nonetheless, was not fairly as sturdy. The proper-hander’s strikeout fee dipped to simply 19% whereas his stroll fee crept as much as 9.8% after sitting at a a lot stronger 6.4% the yr prior. Whereas Anderson posted one of the best hard-hit and barrel charges of his profession with the Royals, the on-field outcomes simply weren’t there and he was minimize from the roster again in July after posting a 4.04 ERA and 5.07 FIP in 35 2/3 innings of labor.
Since parting methods with the Royals, Anderson briefly pitched in each the Dodgers and Orioles organizations on minor league offers however didn’t make it to the large league degree. He ended the season on the minor league injured record, although early within the offseason Baltimore expressed at the very least some degree of curiosity in reuniting with Anderson this winter. It’s unclear whether or not or not such a reunion would come on a minor league deal, nonetheless, as Alexander has indicated that golf equipment have expressed curiosity in Anderson on a one-year deal, implying he ought to be capable to land a serious league contract.
As for the Twins, Anderson may definitely make some sense for the membership. After a down season in 2024 and given his checkered damage historical past, the right-hander isn’t more likely to safe an enormous assure on the free agent market at this level. That’s absolutely excellent news for Minnesota, because the membership is able the place they seem extra more likely to minimize payroll than add vital wage. The Twins’ bullpen was first rate in 2024, with a 3.65 FIP that really ranked fifth in baseball, however their precise run prevention left one thing to be desired as their 4.12 ERA ranked nineteenth within the majors. The one main contributor to final yr’s bullpen the membership has parted methods with to date is southpaw Caleb Thielbar, however reinforcing the bullpen isn’t a nasty thought and bringing Anderson into the fold may deepen the membership’s bullpen and permit them to make the most of center reduction choices like Justin Topa and Jorge Alcalá extra judiciously.
