MLB Rumors: Marlins Interested in Brett Anderson?

The Miami Marlins since signing Giancarlo Stanton have shown a priority to adding a left handed starting pitcher to their rotation. We’ve heard them linked to Wade Miley and David Price in a trade as a possible match,

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Those two could potentially have the Marlins required to include top prospect Andrew Heaney. The Marlins however could have interest in a potential free agent left hander. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the team could have interest in former Rockie and Athletic starter Brett Anderson.

The Marlins would like to add a veteran left-hander and called about Brett Anderson (27-32, 3.72 in his career for the Athletics and Rockies)

Anderson had his $12 million team option declined by the Colorado Rockies. When healthy, Anderson has a career 3.73 ERA and a 3.51 FIP in 494 career major league innings. He’s just 27-years old, but has thrown over 100 innings just twice in his six major league seasons.

Last year with the Rockies, Anderson posted a 2.91 ERA and a 2.99 FIP in 43 1/3 innings. He struck out over six hitters per nine innings and walked just 2.70 per nine. His groundball percentage was an extremely impressive 61%, which would fall into line with the rotation the Marlins like to build.

The main issue with Anderson’s fit with the Marlins would be his health issues. After throwing 175 1/3 innings in 2009, his rookie season with the Athletics. Since then, he’s thrown just in his past 5 seasons.

Injuries have been the culprit for the limited time Anderson’s seen on the field for the past few seasons. He suffered a fractured finger in mid-April, which required surgery and kept him out until the All-Star break of 2014. Anderson then underwent season ending surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back in August with the Rockies.

He’s also dealt with elbow injuries, including having Tommy John Surgery in July of 2012, which kept him out until mid-season the following season.

While his injuries are worrisome, I’d think he’d be a good buy-low for the Marlins. He’d be a near top of the rotation guy, if he could stay on the mound and not on the DL. He also would not require the Marlins having to give up any of their top pitching prospects.

Next: Phil Coke a fit on the Marlins?