Last offseason the Los Angeles Dodgers extended qualifying offers to Brett Anderson, Zack Greinke and Howie Kendrick. Of the trio, Anderson seemed the most-likely to accept the one-year pact, though even that came with a healthy share of doubt as no MLB player had agreed to it.
One day after Colby Rasmus accepted the qualifying offer from the Houston Astros, Anderson did the same to return for a second season with the Dodgers. The southpaw soon after explained he rejected multiyear contract offers and elected to gamble on another year of remaining healthy.
That never manifested, however, as Anderson underwent back surgery last March to repair a bulging disc. He wasn’t activated off the disabled list until August, but was limited due to additional injuries.
Although the risk of signing a one-year deal to then test free agency with a weaker class this offseason didn’t pan out, Anderson has reportedly agreed to terms with the reigning World Series champion Chicago Cubs, via Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
Sources: Brett Anderson has deal with #Cubs, pending physical. Impressed club during recent bullpen session in Arizona.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 24, 2017
Per Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, the left-hander will have the potential to earn a maximum of $10 million this season:
Source: Brett Anderson's deal with the Chicago Cubs is for $3.5M, should he pass his physical. Incentives can take it up to $10M.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 24, 2017
Anderson hinted at a potential deal with one of the Chicago teams prior to Rosenthal’s report:
Wheels up to Chicago…I bet it's cold there.
— Brett Anderson (@BrettAnderson35) January 23, 2017
Anderson suffered a mild left wrist sprain and was removed after the first inning of his 2016 debut. Prior to that point he’d already 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 once more removed due to injury. 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 from back surgery.
The Dodgers placed Anderson on the 15-day DL on Aug. 23, and he didn’t return until Sept. 22. The 28-year-old went on to allow four runs on six hits in four innings in a start, and threw 2.1 scoreless innings in relief prior to the regular season concluding.
While the 2016 season was yet another marred by injury, Anderson isn’t far removed from a successful and healthy campaign. He was 10-9 over 31 starts in 2015, with a 3.69 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 1.33 WHIP and an MLB-best 66.3 ground ball percentage.
Anderson set new career highs that year in starts and innings pitched (180.1). He went a combined 11-11 with a 4.18 ERA in 35 games (34 starts) in two seasons with the Dodgers.
