LOS ANGELES — The Angels acquired right-handed pitcher Ian Anderson from the Atlanta Braves on Sunday in exchange for left-hander José Suarez.
Anderson, 26, underwent Tommy John surgery in early 2023 and has not appeared in a major-league game since 2022. He was competing for a spot in the Braves’ starting rotation and pitched three innings Sunday in a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles. Anderson had a 2.65 ERA but 18 walks over 17 innings this spring for the Braves, including four starts.
Angels manager Ron Washington said Anderson will begin the season in the bullpen, but he could be called upon to start if the situation arises.
“Before he got hurt, he was an up-and-coming, pretty good pitcher. I don’t think he lost the ability to pitch. We were left-handed heavy in our bullpen and this gives us another opportunity to get another right-hander in there,” Washington said. “Right now it’s the bullpen and I think as we go through the season, that will play out the way it’s supposed to play out.”
Anderson, who Atlanta selected with the third overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, debuted with the Braves as a 22-year-old during the pandemic-shortened season in 2020. He was excellent in his first two seasons with a 3.25 ERA in 30 starts with 165 strikeouts in 160⅔ innings and won a World Series ring in 2021 after pitching in four postseason games, most notably throwing five hitless innings in Game 3 of the World Series against Houston.
Anderson made 15 minor-league starts in 2024 and had a 3.44 ERA with 68 strikeouts in 68 innings.
Suarez, 27, had spent his entire career with the Angels, who signed him out of Venezuela as a teenager in 2014. He made his major-league debut in 2019 and appeared in 99 games with 61 starts.
He started 34 games for the Angels from 2021-22 and became a key part of their rotation, but he struggled badly in early 2023 and he spent the past two years moving through the Angels’ rotation, the bullpen and the minors while unable to recapture his previous form. He appeared in 22 major-league games in 2024 with a 6.02 ERA and started the last two games.
Suarez had a 6.55 ERA in 11 innings in Cactus League play this spring and allowed one run in 1⅓ innings on Friday against the Colorado Rockies.
He lost 20 pounds this offseason and had a rejuvenated mindset after being designated for assignment midway through the 2024 season. Suarez was competing for a spot in an Angels’ bullpen that already had left-handers Jose Quijada, Brock Burke, newly acquired Angel Perdomo, Rule 5 pick Garrett McDaniels and potentially Reid Detmers.
“The Braves are getting a bulldog. We are going to miss Suarez,” Washington said. “I’m not taking anything from Suarez saying, ‘he was no good for us, that’s why we traded him.’ We do what we do to make us better and he just happened to be the guy we made the trade for. Atlanta probably needed him and we felt we needed Ian Anderson.”
The Angels and the Braves have now made four trades during the current offseason. Angels general manager Perry Minasian worked for Atlanta president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Braves before the Angels hired him four seasons ago.
NETO RAMPING UP
Shortstop Zach Neto stayed back in Tempe, Arizona, for extended spring training to continue his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery.
He has made significant progress and has been hitting and throwing everyday as of late.
“He’s not ready to come up and play for us yet, but if you were with Neto from day one in spring training, you would think he is (ready) the way he went about his business,” Washington said. “He has to get stronger and stronger. He’s able to throw with no problem, but he’s not ready to go at game action. We are just going to keep the progress going and we have no date for when he’s going to arrive.”
Washington said Neto will appear in minor-league games prior to rejoining the Angels.
MONCADA STILL NOT READY
Third baseman Yoán Moncada has been out with a bruised right thumb since March 12 and is still not hitting or throwing.
Moncada was in uniform during batting practice on Sunday with a brace on his right thumb. Washington is still hopeful that Moncada will be able to play on Opening Day on Thursday against the White Sox in Chicago.
“He’s feeling better everyday. He feels like he’s going to be ready for Opening Day but we have to go through our medical people for that,” Washington said. “Our fingers are crossed that he makes it opening day, but I can’t give an answer whether he will or he won’t.”
Moncada appeared in just 12 games last season for the White Sox after suffering an adductor strain in April. Washington said Luis Rengifo will play third base on Opening Day if Moncada is not available.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Tyler Glasnow, 9-6, 3.49 ERA in 2024) at Angels (TBD), Monday, 6:07 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network, 830 AM