Tasked with upgrading an inconsistent bullpen, the Tampa Bay Rays found pitching help at the trade deadline buzzer, acquiring right-handed reliever Nick Anderson and starter Trevor Richards from the Marlins. In doing so, the Rays sent primary opener Ryne Stanek and outfield prospect Jesus Sanchez to Miami.
Tampa Bay also opened 40-man roster spots by trading lefty reliever Adam Kolarek to the Dodgers for minor-league outfielder Niko Hulsizer, and outfield prospect Joe McCarthy to the Giants.
Tampa Bay is landing a hard-throwing bullpen piece in Anderson, a 29-year-old rookie who has logged a 3.92 ERA and 2.72 FIP with a 14.22 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 across 43-2/3 innings this season. Anderson’s on a minimal salary and won’t be eligible for arbitration until the conclusion of the 2021 season.
RJ Anderson (CBS Sports) writes that he is better than his peripherals suggest:
At one point, Nick Anderson was a middling pitcher in the Frontier League. Now, he’s an attractive trade candidate whose best days could be ahead of him. Anderson has a high-quality breaking ball that he could probably stand to throw more, as well as a rising mid-to-upper-90s heater. He’s an extreme fly-ball pitcher, which is a tenuous thing to be in a league with a juiced ball. But Anderson has good stuff and his peripherals suggest he’s better than his 93 ERA+ indicates. The Marlins have no reason to hold onto him long-term — he’s a 29-year-old rookie reliever — and they can use the Peter Fairbanks trade as a blueprint for a deal of their own.
— RJ Anderson
The 26-year-old Richards recently lost his place in the Marlins’ rotation, although he was a passable member the last two seasons. Over that span, he posted a 4.46 ERA and 4.38 FIP with an 8.8 K/9 and a 3.97 BB/9 over 238-1/3 innings.
Richards has one of the best changeups in baseball and is an innings eater.
…Richards, 26, has one of the game’s best changeups. He also has more than 200 league-average innings under his belt and another five seasons of team control remaining. In other words, there’s a lot to like here.
— RJ Anderson
Richards could factor into Tampa Bay’s rotation, which is down a pair of pitchers due to injuries to Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. He could also slot into the bullpen; his role is unclear as of now.