The Angels announced Tuesday that right-hander Shaun Anderson, who was designated for assignment a few days ago, passed through waivers unclaimed. The Halos outrighted Anderson to Triple-A, but he rejected the assignment (which is his right as a player who has previously been outrighted in the past). He’s elected free agency instead.
Anderson tossed 16 2/3 innings out of the Angels’ bullpen this season. The 31-year-old was hit hard, surrendering 13 runs (11 earned) on 17 hits and eight walks with a dozen strikeouts. He also hit a batter and threw a wild pitch.
That’s now parts of seven seasons in the majors for Anderson, although most of his looks in the majors have been fleeting — as evidenced by the fact that he’s accrued only two-plus years of service in those seven partial seasons. The 2016 third-rounder (Red Sox) has a career 6.35 ERA with a subpar 16.7% strikeout rate against a solid but unspectacular 8.8% walk rate. His slider and changeup have both graded as plus pitches at various points in the past, but not much from Anderson’s arsenal has generated positive results in recent seasons.
Anderson had a solid run with the Korea Baseball Organization’s Kia Tigers in 2023 and posted very strong minor league numbers between the Triple-A affiliates for the Rangers and Marlins in 2024 (3.00 ERA, 23.4 K%, 5.9 BB%). He spent the bulk of the 2025 season in the Angels’ Triple-A rotation and was tagged for a 6.02 ERA in 23 starts (plus one bullpen outing). That rough season skewed his career line in Triple-A, but Anderson still carries a 4.35 ERA in 428 2/3 innings at that level, even with last year’s 6.02 mark in 116 2/3 frames.
If you can’t make it here, you can’t make it anywhere. Regardless, I wish him luck.
Should have gone by Chone.
Damn only 2 years of service time in 7 years of playing, that’s rough, what does that even get you ?
More tgan youll ever get
That’s two more years than 95% of everyone who’s ever played pro ball.
Comments like this always really flummox me.
Empathy is a good thing. But most people don’t realize the benefits players get after a couple of years of service time.
60,000 a year after 62. Largely subsidized health benefits. Plus he made more in seven years than most people will make working 30 years.
Not a bad deal for a guy with a negative bWAR.
He’s probably made close to 3 million dollars, will receive about 60,000 in benefits once he reaches 62…and gets the majority of health insurance coverage paid for by MLB. And that doesn’t include his Korean Salary.
I don’t feel too bad for him. Lasting a couple years in the big leagues is a pretty good deal.
Come to Chicago Shaun, the Cubs need pitching depth
Famous last words.
Had the Steele news come out before this article. I would’ve made an edit. And added. Now more than ever.
Great news. I hope he signs elsewhere to avoid the possibility of Perry resigning him.
THANK GOD
Fills a huge hole in the bullpen of guys who can’t get anyone out. Oh wait we have a ton of them
GOOD RIDDANCE
Enjoy the minors for the rest of your career