Braves stole perfect Andrew Friedman gem from Dodgers after Rays release

The Los Angeles Dodgers have made the postseason 10 years in a row in large part thanks to Andrew Friedman, who was hired as the President of Baseball Operations after the 2014 season. He has made some incredible moves since.

Los Angeles has utilized a beautiful blend of possessing deep pocketbooks coupled with the mindset and scouting of a small-market team. This has allowed the team to bring in superstars like Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts while also landing hidden gems like Chris Taylor and Max Muncy.

If there’s one thing that the Dodgers are absolutely great at it’s maximizing pitchers — both starters and relievers. Whether it be starters like Tyler Anderson or relievers like Blake Treinen, the Dodgers not only allow pitchers to reach their ceilings but can also cash in on reclamation projects that other teams give up on.

Friedman’s former team, the Tampa Bay Rays, teed one of those up for the Dodgers … until it was stolen right. from under them. After battling injuries and missing all of 2022, Nick Anderson was outrighted by the Rays on Wednesday. Unfortunately, he signed with the Braves on Friday evening.

Passan continued that Anderson can decline an outright assignment. If he’s not claimed on waivers, Anderson can opt for free agency instead of being sent down to the minor leagues.

Nick Anderson has the makeup of a great Dodgers reclamation project

Anderson proved with the Rays that he has the stuff to be nearly unhittable, even if the Dodgers did rough him up in the 2020 World Series. His numbers took a dip in the playoffs as well as in 2021, when he pitched in just six games before requiring elbow surgery, which knocked him out for all of 2022.

This is the same situation that Treinen found himself in before joining the Dodgers. The former A’s pitcher posted one of the greatest seasons in MLB history in 2018 and followed that up with an injured/poor 2019. The A’s parted ways with him and he joined the Dodgers, where he slowly morphed back into being one of the nastiest pitchers in the game.

It would’ve been a low-risk, high-reward move that the Dodgers are so great at following through with. But Atlanta pounced on the opportunity after it was believed there wasn’t going to be a ton of competition for Anderson with his recent injury history.

If the Dodgers’ could’ve made it happen, then the team could’ve had another Evan Phillips-type arm on its hands.

Though the Dodgers’ recent history of signing injured relievers hasn’t exactly panned out with Tommy Kahnle, Danny Duffy and Jimmy Nelson, a very cheap deal for Anderson might’ve made up for all that. So classic of the Braves to swoop in and ruin everything.

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