Cardinals' Nick Anderson: Will report to Triple-A Memphis
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Anderson went unclaimed after exercising his upward mobility clause and will report to Triple-A Memphis, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Anderson did not make the Cardinals' Opening Day roster but will stick around in the organization as relief depth. He has an opt-out clause in his contract for May 30 if he's not added to the Cardinals' 26-man active roster by then.
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Cardinals' Nick Anderson: Reassigned to minors camp
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The Cardinals reassigned Anderson to minor-league camp Monday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Anderson struggled this spring in his bid to win an Opening Day bullpen spot, allowing eight runs over 5.1 innings. He has an upward mobility clause in his contract, allowing other teams the opportunity to add him to its 40-man roster. If that doesn't happen, Anderson will report to Triple-A Memphis.
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Cardinals' Nick Anderson: Signs with St. Louis as NRI
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The Cardinals signed Anderson to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Anderson, 34, made 37 appearances for the Royals last season, putting up a 4.04 ERA and 29:15 K:BB over 35.2 frames. The righty reliever hasn't shown the same velocity or swing-and-miss stuff the last couple years that he did earlier in his career, but Anderson should have a decent chance to make St. Louis' Opening Day roster if he can stay healthy.
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Nick Anderson: Holding audition for clubs
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Anderson will hold a showcase for teams Jan. 23, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Anderson has been working with the Baseball Performance Center in New Jersey on cleaning up his delivery in hopes to returning to the form which saw him post a 2.77 ERA and 136:21 K:BB over 81.1 innings from 2019-20. The 34-year-old has dealt with injuries and uneven performance since then, most recently collecting a 4.04 ERA and 29:15 K:BB across 35.2 frames with the Royals in 2024.
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Orioles' Nick Anderson: Signs with Baltimore
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Anderson agreed to a minor-league contract with the Orioles on Tuesday, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.
Anderson opted out of his minor-league contract with the Dodgers on Tuesday after allowing one earned run in 4.1 innings across three appearances and didn't have to wait long to find another opportunity. The 33-year-old logged a 4.04 ERA in 35.2 innings out of the bullpen for Kansas City earlier this season, but he'll report to Triple-A Norfolk with his new organization before potentially getting a look from Baltimore in September.
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Nick Anderson: Elects free agency
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The Royals released Anderson on Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Anderson cleared waivers after being removed from the Royals' 40-man roster, and he declined an outright assignment to Triple-A Omaha. The veteran reliever holds a 4.04 ERA and 29:15 K:BB over 35.2 innings this season at the major-league level.
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Royals' Nick Anderson: Loses 40-man roster spot
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The Royals designated Anderson for assignment Saturday.
Anderson's move off the 40-man roster clears a spot for right-hander Hunter Harvey, whom the Royals acquired from the Nationals on Saturday. Over 34.2 innings out of the bullpen this season, Anderson logged a 4.15 ERA and struck out 29 batters across 34.2 innings with Kansas City. He's under contract at a modest $1.58 million salary for 2024, so it wouldn't be surprising if another reliever-needy team put in a waiver claim for Anderson.
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Royals' Nick Anderson: Nabs third win
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Anderson (3-1) struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the win over the Mariners on Friday.
It didn't look like any Royals pitcher would be in line for the win after the Mariners put up seven runs in the first inning, but Anderson was the beneficiary of a late rally that ended in a walk-off. He's had mixed results since the start of May, allowing seven runs (six earned) with a 12:6 K:BB over his last 12.1 innings. For the year, Anderson has a 3.86 ERA despite a 1.63 WHIP and 17:12 K:BB across 23.1 innings while adding a save and two holds. The right-hander's numbers are far from elite, but he's done a decent job at preventing runs for a bullpen that is 21st in the majors with a 4.21 ERA this year.
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Royals' Nick Anderson: Picks up win Monday
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Anderson (2-1) pitched a perfect inning and struck out two batters to earn the win Monday over the Brewers.
Anderson kept the deficit to two runs in the top of the seventh inning, and the Royals rallied ahead in their half of the frame. The right-hander allowed multiple runs in two of his first five outings of the season, but he's since posted nine consecutive scoreless innings. He's at a 2.77 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 8:6 K:BB through 13 innings overall, though that hasn't translated to many high-leverage looks for Anderson, who has added just one hold and no saves.
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Royals' Nick Anderson: Snags first win
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Anderson (1-1) allowed a hit and struck out one without walking a batter over a scoreless inning, earning the win in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the White Sox.
Anderson pitched the seventh inning and became the pitcher of record when Salvador Perez put the Royals ahead with a two-run home run in the eighth. It's been feast or famine for Anderson so far -- he has five scoreless outings and two games where he's given up two runs. He's sporting a 3:4 K:BB and a 2.00 WHIP over six innings, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him continue working as a middle reliever most of the time.
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Royals' Nick Anderson: Gets walked off Monday
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Anderson (0-1) allowed two runs on two hits without walking or striking out a batter over one-third of an inning to take the loss Monday versus the Orioles.
Andreson was tasked with the ninth inning in a 4-4 game, but he ended up giving up a walk-off two-run home run to Jordan Westburg. None of the Royals' top relievers have looked all that steady early in the season, so this misstep is unlikely to cost Anderson too much in what remains a fluid bullpen situation. He pitched a clean inning versus the Twins on Opening Day and should continue to see mid-to-high-leverage assignments.
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Royals' Nick Anderson: Settling in with new team
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Anderson has allowed two runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts over three Cactus League innings.
Anderson was traded from Atlanta to Kansas City in November. The 33-year-old right-hander has nine saves and 37 holds under his belt over four major-league campaigns, having missed 2022 after undergoing internal brace surgery on his elbow. Anderson figures to be in the high-leverage mix for the Royals this season, though bullpen roles are up for grabs after the team's aggressive remodeling of its bullpen in the offseason.
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Royals' Nick Anderson: Traded to Royals
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Atlanta traded Anderson to the Royals on Friday in exchange for cash, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Anderson was a non-tender candidate for Atlanta, so Kansas City took the opportunity to land the 33-year-old reliever. Anderson posted a 3.06 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 36 strikeouts across 35.1 frames before a shoulder strain put an early end to his season. With the Royals, Anderson may be called upon often in high-leverage situations.
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Braves' Nick Anderson: Set for rehab assignment
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Anderson (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Gwinnett, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Anderson, who has been on the injured list since mid-July with a strained right shoulder, will likely make two or three appearances with Gwinnett before its season comes to an end Sunday. After that, Atlanta will have to decide whether or not to make room on the 28-man active roster for Anderson during the final week of the season, in what could serve as an audition for a spot on the big club's postseason roster. Anderson gathered four wins, one save and 15 holds while pitching to a 3.06 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 36:9 K:BB in 35.1 innings before landing on the shelf.
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Braves' Nick Anderson: Throwing off mound
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Anderson (shoulder) has begun throwing off a mound, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Anderson has been on the shelf since mid-July with a right shoulder strain but appears to be making progress. The expectation is that he should be ready for a rehab assignment the week of Sept. 11, setting him up for a late-season return. Anderson has pitched well when healthy, holding a 3.06 ERA and 36:9 K:BB over 35.1 relief innings.
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Braves' Nick Anderson: Lands on 60-day IL
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Atlanta placed Anderson on the 60-day injured list Thursday with a right shoulder strain.
Anderson had been enjoying a solid 2023 campaign, posting a 3.06 ERA and 1.10 WHIP through 35.1 innings while collecting 15 holds during the first half of the season. While the right-hander will be forced to sit out through at least the first week of September, his absence will likely create more high-leverage opportunities for Joe Jimenez and Kirby Yates. Dalton Guthrie was claimed off waivers from San Francisco on Thursday to fill Anderson's spot on the 40-man roster.
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Braves' Nick Anderson: Collects 14th hold
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Anderson retired the only batter he faced to record his 14th hold of the season in Monday's win over the Guardians.
After A.J. Minter bailed out Bryce Elder in the seventh inning, Anderson returned the favor for Minter in the eighth, getting Myles Straw to ground out to Matt Olson with runners on first and second and two outs. Anderson is tied for 10th in the majors in holds, and he sits just two shy of the career-high 16 he notched between the Marlins and Rays in 2019.
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Braves' Nick Anderson: Earns first save
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Anderson picked up his first save of the season in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Reds by retiring the side during a perfect ninth inning. He struck out one.
Anderson came on in the ninth inning with a one-run lead and retired Tyler Stephenson, Wil Myers and Jason Vosler to earn his first save. Although the 32-year-old right-hander delivered an impressive performance, Atlanta is expected to rely on A.J. Minter to handle the bulk of the save opportunities while Raisel Iglesias recuperates from a shoulder injury.
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Braves' Nick Anderson: Recalled from Triple-A
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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: Could make Opening Day bullpen
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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.
