The Phillies have released Matt Anderson from minor league camp, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com (on Twitter). The right-hander joined Philadelphia on a minor league contract in January.
Anderson, 34, hasn't played in the big leagues since 2005. He was the first overall pick of the 1997 draft, signing for $2.5MM. His best year came with the Tigers (the team that drafted him) in 2001, when he saved 22 games with a 4.82 ERA in 56 innings. Anderson hasn't played in affiliated ball since 2008, and the old story is that he wrecked his pitching shoulder in May 2002 during a pre-game octopus-tossing promotion at a Detroit Red Wings' game. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick spoke to Anderson recently and got to the bottom of the incident and his injuries.
Bummer. I always liked that guy — seemed sort of like a Mark Fidrych type, and the early, sad injury that derailed him only added to the comparison. He had control problems, obviously, but so much upside. I kind of wish the octopus story was true, though.
This dude had some smoke. I was hoping for him to make a succesful comeback… Maybe Prior will be the guy!