Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is looking for starting pitchers ahead of this year's trade deadline.
One of the pitchers linked to Boston is posting the best season of his nine-year MLB career so far, and he'd be a big help to the Sox's rotation.
MLB insider Mark Feinsand has named Los Angeles Angels veteran Tyler Anderson as a good fit for the Red Sox, Cardinals and Astros. St. Louis had a rough go of things to begin the campaign, but its record has turned and sits five games behind the division-leading Brewers in a wild card spot. The Astros have also moved up in the American League West, but they're still outside the playoff picture.
The Red Sox have played some of their best baseball all year in recent games, and if they continue their hot streak, the front office may be forced to add more than anticipated at the trade deadline. Anderson would be a great place to start.
Tyler Anderson has been on 🔥@Markgubicza @Patrick_ONeal@Angels I #AngelsLive pic.twitter.com/smFvWAUkUM
— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) June 20, 2024
Angels veteran southpaw Tyler Anderson would be a good fit for the Red Sox rotation
Boston needs a pitcher it can hold onto next year. Anderson's contract extends through the 2025 campaign and he'll be a free agent in 2026, which would be his age-36 season. His contract would give the Red Sox plenty of time for Lucas Giolito and Garrett Whitlock to rehab before they can join the pitching staff.
Anderson is a career 4.18 ERA pitcher, but he's blowing his average out of the water with the Angels this season. He's logged a 2.48 ERA through 94.1 innings of work. Anderson boasts 99th percentile offspeed run value, which pitching coach Andrew Bailey could surely use to the rotation's advantage.
The veteran is also a lefty, and the Red Sox's pitching staff lacks diversity. Relievers Brennan Bernardino and Cam Booser are the only lefties on Boston's staff, and the all-righty rotation begs for a switch. Anderson doesn't strike many batters out compared to how many he walks, though, which could present a problem for the Sox's questionable defense. The infield has shown improvement in recent games, however.
Anderson suits the Red Sox's needs for the end of the 2024 season and into 2025. His late-career resurgence is promising and his left-handedness would bring much-needed diversity to Boston's starting rotation.