The Los Angeles Dodgers added a left-handed starting pitcher on Monday to round off their rotation heading into 2015 and the Atlanta Braves received news regarding the bulging disk in outfielder Nick Markakis' neck.
According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Dodgers have agreed with left-hander Brett Anderson on a one-year, $10 million contract with $4 million in possible incentives. Anderson was limited to just eight starts in 2014 because he suffered a broken finger and then underwent surgery to repair a bulging disk in his lower back. Despite the injury, Anderson had a 2.91 ERA and 1.32 WHIP during his time with the Colorado Rockies this past year.
The left-hander also underwent Tommy John surgery when he was with the Oakland Athletics back in 2011, which caused him to miss much of the 2012 season. Then in 2013 he missed four months because of a sprained right ankle and a stress fracture in his right foot. The A's traded him to the Rockies prior to the 2014 season likely because they had cheaper options in the rotation who weren't as injury prone.
According to Olney, the Athletics and the New York Yankees expressed interest in Anderson before he landed the deal with Los Angeles, which was likely the highest offer he received. The 26-year-old has only pitched in 92 games (81 starts) in six MLB seasons and has compiled a 27-32 record with a 3.73 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.
On the injury front, Nick Markakis recently signed with the Atlanta Braves for $44 million over four years. The team was aware there was a chance he would have to undergo surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck, and according to David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Markakis will indeed do so this Wednesday. He's expected to resume baseball activities in eight weeks barring any setbacks.
The longtime Baltimore Oriole is set to receive a $2 million signing bonus on January 1 as a part of his deal with Atlanta. Braves president of baseball operations John Hart admired the intangibles Markakis brings to the game, and the fact they needed a right fielder really solidified the deal. The 31-year-old owns a career stat line of .290/.358/.435 with 141 home runs and 658 RBIs in nine MLB seasons.
