Tyler Anderson’s response to leaving Dodgers for Angels is quite bizarre

Does Tyler Anderson’s representation know how free agency works? Does Tyler Anderson pay attention to how bad the LA Angels are? Those are the questions we have to ask before Los Angeles Dodgers fans assume he just wanted to leave the organization.

This week, in the blink of an eye, Anderson turned down the Dodgers’ qualifying offer (one year, $19.65 million) and instead signed with the Angels on a three-year, $39 million contract. Just like that, LA was down a very important piece that helped them to a 111-win season in 2022.

But there have been more questions than answers since Anderson’s departure. It was understandable that he desired multi-year security on his next contract … but to only take $20 million more across just two more seasons with a bad team just hardly made sense.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like fans will get any further clarity on the subject, because Anderson’s response to it all has been even more confusing.

When asked about getting to play with Shohei Ohtani in 2023, Anderson said he’s glad he doesn’t have to face the Japanese superstar anymore. Uh, the Dodgers and Angels only play each other four times per year … and even so, he traded not facing Shohei Ohtani for facing the best offense in baseball?

It seems obvious that Tyler Anderson just didn’t want to be a Dodger anymore

Then, he obviously talked about how the Angels have a good team that he thinks can make the playoffs. On paper, the Angels have a ton of talent! Is it possible they have a shot at the playoffs? Sure! But that hasn’t happened since 2014. There is no recent track record of this team being good. They’ve been below .500 for seven out of the last eight seasons despite having Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani and Anthony Rendon for three of them.

And finally, Anderson revealed there were “multiple three-year offers on the table” as well as the fact he had talked to the Dodgers about a longer-term deal. But his discussions with the Dodgers “never went far enough” and he felt the Angels were the best spot for him out of the other clubs that made him an offer.

He mentioned he didn’t want to “risk” remaining in free agency any longer. He was a free agent for two weeks! Free agency is never defined within the first month after the World Series ends! If he’d waited longer, he could’ve gotten more money and he could’ve probably signed with a better team! The starting pitching market is ALWAYS the most robust out of any position! 

In the end, Anderson got what he wanted. He got to stay in the LA area so he can be closer to his family in Arizona and he got the security he desired with a multi-year contract at $13 million per season. Good for him. But now that he’s peeled back the curtain a bit, it really feels like he had no patience with the team that helped revive his career and was happy to move on when granted the first opportunity to do so.

Angels plunder Dodgers All-Star starter Tyler Anderson in surprise reversal

The Los Angeles Dodgers have lost starting pitcher Tyler Anderson to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Qualifying Offer day.