Difficult as it may be to recall, there was a point in time where it appeared the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation in 2016 was going to feature four left-handers. But Hyun-Jin Ryu’s recovery from shoulder surgery hit multiple snags, and Brett Anderson underwent back surgery.
It was a surprising development, but one that didn’t leave the Dodgers regretting their decision to extend the one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer to Anderson after the 2015 season.
He began the year on the 60-day disabled list, retroactive to March 25, and was projected to miss three to five months while recovering from back surgery to repair a bulging disc.
The 28-year-old began to play catch in June, and threw his first bullpen session in July. Anderson came off the DL on Aug. 14 to face the Pittsburgh Pirates in an afternoon affair at Dodger Stadium
His 2016 debut was short-lived, as Anderson suffered a mild left wrist sprain in the first inning after diving at a chopper hit toward second base. Anderson allowed five runs on five hits and threw 30 pitches in his lone inning of work.
The southpaw managed to make his next turn in the rotation, but was removed due to injury in a second straight start. Anderson that time came out in the fourth inning due to a blister on his left index finger that had lingered since Anderson’s rehab assignment.
He was put on the 15-day DL on Aug. 23 and didn’t return until Sept. 22. He made one start, allowing four runs on six hits in four innings, and threw 2.1 scoreless innings in relief prior to the regular season coming to a close.
2016 Highlight
After three shaky starts the Dodgers tested Anderson in a relief role against the San Diego Padres on Sept. 29. It came under the notion that Anderson potentially would make the postseason roster, and he went on to collect a pair of strikeouts while holding the Padres scoreless over 2.1 frames.
Although the appearance was encouraging, it ultimately was not enough for the Dodgers to include Anderson on their National League Division Series and NL Championship Series rosters.
2017 Outlook
All signs point to Anderson, who is a free agent, and the Dodgers parting ways this offseason. The role of the dice last winter backfired, Los Angeles has plenty of pitching depth knocking on the door, and are unlikely to again extend a qualifying offer to Anderson.
Although this season was in line with what’s been Anderson’s Achilles’ heel — injuries — he did have a strong 2015 campaign, going 10-9 over 31 starts with a 3.69 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 3.51 xFIP, 1.33 WHIP and an MLB-best 66.3 ground ball percentage.
Anderson set new career highs that season in starts and innings pitched (180.1). He went 11-11 with a 4.18 ERA in 35 games (34 starts) across two seasons with the Dodgers.
