The Los Angeles Angels officially announced the signing of left-handed pitcher Tyler Anderson to a three-year contract reportedly worth $39 million. The deal was first reported on Tuesday and was made official Wednesday morning.
Anderson rejected the qualifying offer made to him by the L.A. Dodgers, meaning the Angels forfeit a second-round pick and the Dodgers pick up either a fourth or fifth-round selection. Anderson opted for the security of a three-year contract as opposed to the one-year, $19.65 million qualifying offer.
The newest Angels starter had a career year with the Dodgers in 2022. He went 15-5 in 30 appearances (28 starts), amassing a 2.57 ERA, 1.002 WHIP, and a 4.06 K-to-BB ratio, all career bests. Anderson nearly no-hit the Angels during the 2022 campaign.
Perry Minasian stated on multiple occasions that the uncertainty surrounding a potential sale of the team would not affect the Angels’ ability to add free agents. Minasian emphatically backed that claim by giving Anderson three years.
This is the first multi-year contract handed out to a non-Angels free agent starting pitcher since the C.J. Wilson contract of 2011. The Angels signed Wilson to a five-year, $77.5 million contract, and while Wilson played four solid years in Anaheim, it never quite led to the expected team success.
Anderson now joins what is currently a five-man rotation of Shohei Ohtani, Patrick Sandoval, Reid Detmers, and Jose Suarez. Anderson is the only player above 28 in this group, and it is arguably their best starting rotation since 2014.
This move could also be confirmation of the team’s insistence that Ohtani is not on the trade block and that the Angels are attempting to win in 2023. Signing a soon-to-be 33-year-old to a three-year contract is not a move a team makes when they’re about to trade their best player.
The Angels could also still be in the market for one more starting pitcher if they choose to deploy another six-man rotation. They also need 2-3 quality bullpen arms, as well as at least two strong infield and outfield depth options. There remains plenty of work for the Halos before Opening Day 2023.