M’s GM: Kade Anderson ‘in the mix’ for rotation

As it turns out, Anderson wasn’t the cure all for Seattle’s issues. He gave up seven hits and managed just three strikeouts tonight against a lineup that had Jonah Heim batting cleanup. Anderson is almost certainly destined for big things as a major leaguer, but it’s going to take time. He’s still probably worth using in mixed leagues at home versus the Rangers next week.

Anderson got off to an excellent start in his second career outing for the Mariners. He stranded four baserunners across four scoreless innings before getting into some trouble in the fifth. He gave up a base hit and walked a batter with one out in the inning, ending his day at 85 pitches as the team looks to limit his pitch count. Both inherited runners would come in to score. He struck out three. The 22-year-old left-hander has given up five runs with an 8/5 K/BB ratio over 10 innings across his first two starts. Anderson is in line for his third start on Thursday, taking on the Athletics in Seattle.

Anderson tossed a clean first inning, collecting his first career strikeout on Alex Bregman to end the inning. He worked around a walk in the second inning, then tossed a clean third with the help of a spectacular home run robbery by Randy Arozarena. Anderson gave up his first hit to lead off the fourth, then surrendered his first run on a walk, a hit, and a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Despite being at 72 pitches and never having thrown more than 80 this season, he returned for the sixth, facing the order for a third time, and gave up back-to-back solo homers to Alex Bregman and Michael Busch, knocking him from the game with two outs at 81 pitches. Still, it was an impressive debut overall for the talented 22-year-old right-hander. He’ll get a chance to build on his solid first start with a matchup against the Blue Jays in Toronto next weekend.

It’s time. Anderson’s meteoric rise concludes with his major-league debut against the Cubs on Saturday following an unprecedented 18-start run at Double-A Arkansas where he compiled a microscopic 1.06 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 135/13 K/BB ratio across 93 1/3 innings in his professional debut. The 22-year-old southpaw, who was the third-overall selection in last year’s draft, offers enough strikeout upside to be relevant in all fantasy formats over the final five weeks of the season. His signature offering is an upper-80s slider that he can consistently land in the strike zone for strikes, while also burying it below the zone to generate whiffs as a putaway pitch. It’s so early in his long-term development trajectory that fantasy managers should keep realistic expectations in check, but it’s not hyperbolic to assert that Anderson is unquestionably one of the more exciting, front-of-the-rotation caliber pitching prospects to reach the big leagues in recent memory. He’s long gone in most competitive fantasy leagues and should remain rostered until further notice.

And the fantasy managers rejoiced. The 22-year-old southpaw will make his highly anticipated MLB debut on Saturday against the Cubs. Anderson, the third overall selection from the 2025 MLB draft, has compiled a brilliant 1.06 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and a 135/13 K/BB ratio across 93 1/3 innings in 18 starts at Double-A Arkansas this season. He should be rostered in all fantasy leagues and is expected to make an immediate impact for the M’s and for fantasy managers over the final six weeks of the season.

Woo completed six innings in the win tonight, but he was only at 75 pitches, and it sounds like he would have continued if not for the shoulder issue getting him lifted as a precaution. Woo said after the game that he wasn’t concerned about it. Still, if he winds up on the IL, that would open up a spot for top prospect Kade Anderson. Anderson, though, should really be in the majors regardless.

The time to stash Anderson was weeks, if not months, ago. Now, his arrival in Seattle appears imminent, especially after the Mariners jettisoned veteran Luis Castillo at the trade deadline earlier this week. The 22-year-old pitching phenom, who was selected third overall in last year’s draft, has authored one of the most dominant professional debuts in recent memory, posting a microscopic 1.13 ERA and 0.65 WHIP with a staggering 128/12 K/BB ratio across 87 2/3 innings. Seattle can promote Anderson later next week while preserving his rookie eligibility for next season. Mariners president Jerry Dipoto told reporters earlier this week that he will work as a traditional starter, and won’t pitch in relief, when he jumps to the big leagues. At this point, all signs point toward Anderson making his major-league debut next week. Simply put, he has nothing left to prove in the minors and represents a must-roster arm in all fantasy leagues.

Passan adds that the sense is that Kirby is available and could be moved prior to Monday’s deadline. He also notes that Seattle has been listening to offer for Emerson Hancock and Luis Castillo. The Mariners have top prospect Kade Anderson knocking on the door of the majors and figure to move at least one, if not more, of their current rotation members. Kirby would net the largest return in any potential trade package, despite holding a pedestrian 3.98 ERA across 120 innings this season.

It’s fair to wonder whether Seattle will wait until mid-August to promote Anderson since that would allow him to remain rookie-eligible for next season. There will be a rotation spot open one they move on from either Emerson Hancock or Luis Castillo ahead of next week’s trade deadline. There’s a chance that both of them are on the move. Anderson has checked every metaphorical box during his professional debut with a microscopic 1.20 ERA and 119/12 K/BB ratio across 82 1/3 innings over 16 starts for Double-A Arkansas. Needless to say, Anderson should be stashed in all fantasy formats. His time is coming.

Anderson drew the starting assignment for the American League and delivered a near-flawless 10-pitch frame that perfectly encapsulated the polish that has made him one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. He coaxed a pop up from Eli Willits and got Roldy Brito to ground out before surrendering an opposite-field single to Jesús Made. He managed to get out of the frame unscathed by inducing a deep fly ball from Charlie Condon. He averaged 94.3 mph on his four-seam fastball and topped out at 95.4 mph. The 22-year-old southpaw has authored a dominant professional debut, compiling a pristine 1.36 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 108/10 K/BB ratio across 72 2/3 innings over 14 starts at Double-A Arkansas. He’s on track to reach Seattle later this summer and offers enough strikeout upside to make an immediate fantasy impact upon arrival.