Ever since Arte Moreno announced his intention to sell the Los Angeles Angels, the question became whether or not Perry Minasian would have the green light to sign free agents contracts longer than one year. Now, the question has reportedly been answered.
The Angels are rumored to have made the first big splash of the offseason, signing former L.A. Dodgers left-handed starter Tyler Anderson to a deal worth approximately $39 million over three years. The team has not yet confirmed this deal.
Anderson joins the Halos after an incredible 2022 season with the Dodgers. He tossed 178.2 innings over 28 starts, compiling a 2.57 ERA and 1.002 WHIP. He was arguably the Dodgers’ second-best starter in 2022 behind Cy Young finalist Julio Urias.
The deal was first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN:
Left-hander Tyler Anderson and the Los Angeles Angels are in agreement on a multiyear contract, sources tell ESPN.
Anderson had been given the qualifying offer by the Los Angeles Dodgers but instead will head down I-5 and join the Angels' rotation.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 15, 2022
Tyler Anderson's deal is for three years and expected to be in the $39 million range, sources tell ESPN.
He turned down the one-year, $19.65 million deal with the Dodgers to join Los Angeles. Angels will lose their 2nd-round pick while Dodgers get a pick after the 4th round.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 15, 2022
Anderson’s 2022 campaign was no fluke, either. He had pitched at least 167.0 innings in three of his last four 162-game seasons. And while the sub-3.00 ERA is an outlier, he has consistently been a league-average or better starting pitcher since his call to the Majors in 2016.
2023 will be Anderson’s age-33 season, and the three-year contract will take him through his age-35 campaign. Anderson also turned down the qualifying offer from the Dodgers, meaning the Angels will forfeit a draft pick to their L.A. counterparts.
The Angels starting rotation is currently five players deep, with Shohei Ohtani, Patrick Sandoval, Jose Suarez, Reid Detmers, and now Anderson. It is easily the most formidable starting rotation they’ve had in the Ohtani era, and potentially their best since 2014.