Pirates likely to trade starting pitcher Tyler Anderson

The Pirates are likely to trade starter Tyler Anderson before this week’s trade deadline passes, per the MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.

Morosi does note that Anderson is particularly appealing to the Dodgers and Phillies, who like his manageable salary as they try to minimize potential tax bills. Of course, if Anderson’s salary makes him an asset to high-payroll teams, it’s surely an asset for low-payroll teams as well. 

Anderson is playing on a one-year, $2.5M contract and is headed for free agency after the season. In theory, he won’t cost much to acquire, but there’s still the matter of finding the right piece that fits the Pirates’ vision.

Anderson's 4.35 ERA/4.26 FIP are his best numbers since his rookie season, but they’re also largely right in line with what he’s shown since leaving Coors Field. 

In these past two seasons with the Giants and Pirates, Anderson has logged 163 innings in 31 appearances (29 starts) with a 4.36 ERA/4.30 FIP, 33.9 percent groundball rate, 18.4 percent strikeout rate, and 7.2 percent walk rate. That’s 2.1 fWAR over roughly a full season of work.