Brett Anderson finally stayed healthy last season, throwing 180 innings with a 3.69 ERA for the Dodgers after logging a grand total of just 206 innings in the previous four seasons. He accepted a one-year, $15.8 million qualifying offer to remain in Los Angeles and headed to spring training with a lot of optimism for 2016.
And now he’s out 3-5 months following back surgery.
Anderson tweaked something in his back throwing live batting practice Tuesday and has been diagnosed with a bulging disk. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated that the team expects him to pitch at some point this season, but it’s unlikely to be until the second half.
What a shame, for both Anderson and the Dodgers. He was hoping that a second healthy season in a row would enable him to cash in with a long-term deal as a free agent next winter. And they were counting on him as their fourth starter, which is a job that will now likely go to left-hander Alex Wood.
Fortunately for the Dodgers they have some quality rotation depth stockpiled and can turn to guys like Mike Bolsinger or Brandon Beachy as the No. 5 starter until Hyun-Jin Ryu is ready to return from shoulder surgery.
Anderson, who’s an entertaining follow on Twitter, posted this:
Definitely not the start I wanted for this season but hopefully it just means a better ending.
— Brett Anderson (@_BAnderson30_) March 3, 2016
