Photo: Redleg Nation Staff
The Cincinnati Reds and Chase Anderson are reuniting. Robert Murray of Fansided is reporting that Anderson is signing a minor league deal for the 2023 season. While Murray’s report didn’t note if Anderson would be getting an invite to spring training or not, it’s tough to believe a 35-year-old would sign a deal without one. If he is indeed getting one that would put the Reds spring training roster at 67, including Hunter Strickland who also re-signed with Cincinnati on Saturday.
Cincinnati picked up Anderson near the end of August last season after he was released for the third time during the season (Detroit released him twice, and then Tampa Bay released him at his request in August). Anderson didn’t pitch in the big leagues for the Tigers or the Rays, but the Reds added him to the taxi squad after signing him and a few days later officially called him up to join the rotation. Things didn’t go well for him in his seven starts and two relief appearances. Anderson posted a 6.38 ERA in 24.0 innings while walking 15 batters, hitting three more, and striking out 23.
In the previous two seasons it was more of the game as he had a 7.22 ERA in 33.2 innings with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2020. In 2021 he found himself with the Philadelphia Phillies and in 48.0 innings he posted a 6.75 ERA. From 2017-2019 he was quite good for the Milwaukee Brewers, posting a 3.63 ERA in 87 games where he threw 438.1 innings. There’s been some changes since then, though. He’s lost about 1.5 MPH on his fastball, and he’s throwing it less often now while he’s increased the frequency in which he is using his cutter. His walk rate has been quite a bit higher in the last two seasons than it was ever before, too.
The 35-year-old will likely join the handfuls of other pitchers vying for the 4th and 5th spots in the Reds rotation. While the top three spots seem to be locked down for second-year pitchers Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Graham Ashcraft, the final two spots don’t really seem to have any “favorites” – just a whole bunch of guys who if they have a good spring could get their opportunity.
