The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired RHP Chase Anderson from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for 1B Chad Spanberger.
The Blue Jays\’ 2020 rotation is by no means set. After trading Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez at the trade deadline, Anderson could be the main veteran in the rotation. Matt Shoemaker will return after allowing five runs in 28.2 innings in his first five starts in April, then tearing his ACL. Trent Thornton seems like a lock, and Anthony Kay, acquired for Stroman, has a good chance. Thomas Pannone and Jacob Waguespack are also battling for a spot, and another player will likely be acquired. With Kay, Thornton and Waguespack debuting in 2019, you could see why the Jays needed a veteran presence in their rotation. Anderson has been an up-and-down pitcher in his career. He had a strong 2017 and a decent 2019, but lead the league in homers allowed in 2018, despite a 3.93 ERA. A great comparable for Jays fans is Marco Estrada. The Blue Jays acquired Estrada, a homer prone pitcher, from the Brewers, in 2014. He was great in 2015 and 2016, before falling off the next two years.
Anderson, soon to be 32, had a 4.21 ERA with a 4.83 FIP and 124 strikeouts in 139 innings for the Brewers in 2019. In his MLB career for the Brewers and Arizona Diamondbacks, Anderson has a 3.94 ERA with a 4.54 FIP and 721 strikeouts in 857 innings.
Anderson was becoming an odd man out in the Brewers\’ rotation. The team likely would have declined Anderson\’s $8.5 million option that was due yesterday (this post is a day late). Instead, they are able to get some value in Spanberger, and not eat up any money. A 24 year old, Spanberger made it to AA for the first time in 2019. He was acquired midway through 2018 as part of a package for Seunghwan Oh.
Spanberger, 24, had a .237 average with 13 home runs, 59 RBIs and four stolen bases in 480 Plate Appearances for AA New Hampshire. In his minor league career, Spanberger has a .274 average with 59 home runs, 200 RBIs and 23 stolen bases in 1259 Plate Appearances.
CarterHud 