In a campaign to repeat as World Series champions, the Chicago Cubs have signed pitcher Brett Anderson to a one-year deal.
The deal has been officially confirmed by the team via its official Twitter account earlier today.
#Cubs and LHP Brett Anderson have agreed to terms on a one-year contract for the 2017 campaign. Welcome, @BrettAnderson35! pic.twitter.com/wX8ZCEydYJ
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) January 26, 2017
Chicago Cubs Sign Brett Anderson
The contract length shows that the team isn’t willing to over-commit to a player with a history of injuries. In spite of this, there’s no doubt he’ll fit in nicely in the rotation’s back end, alongside John Lackey and Mike Montgomery.
Anderson spent last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, with whom he’s pitched since 2014. In a career decimated by injuries, he had one of his best seasons in 2015 (10-9, 3.69 ERA, 180 innings pitched). The career-high in innings pitched was hailed as a smart move by observers at that time, as his starts were carefully managed while producing solid numbers.
However, Anderson once again lost a season to injuries in 2016. His numbers were some of the lowest of his career. he appeared in only four games, and posted a bloated ERA of 11.91 with a record of 1-2.
By no means was Anderson expected to be the Dodgers staff ace but he certainly did not live up to expectations. With Brandon McCarthy, Alex Wood, and Scott Kazmir competing for starts, it was logical to let Anderson go. The expected return of Hyun-Jin Ryu also factored in.
The Cubs add a veteran that, in the worst-case scenario, can contribute out of the bullpen. Another advantage for Anderson will be the incredible depth the Cubs have; he’ll likely receive spot starts while he settles onto his role. If Anderson can stay healthy and pitch well – both big ifs – there’s no reason he can’t contribute and help lead the Cubbies back to the promised land.
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