Nick Anderson

Anderson is expected to be sidelined for the majority of the 2022 season while he recovers from the right elbow surgery he underwent last October.

Anderson led the Rays with six saves during the regular season, topping a list of 12 pitchers to earn a save for Tampa Bay after 11 different players earned saves for the club during the 2019 regular season. He began his 2020 postseason with three straight scoreless appearances but ended up allowing an earned run in each of his final seven appearances, including the go-ahead run in Game 6 of the World Series. The right-hander seemed to run out of gas and his swing-and-miss evaporated; he had nine strikeouts in 14.2 playoff innings after posting a 44.8 K% during the regular season. Among relief pitchers who threw at least 10 innings during the regular season, Anderson's strikeout rate ranked fifth behind only Devin Williams, Aroldis Chapman, James Karinchak and Edwin Diaz. Bet on a skills rebound, though the Rays' bullpen management and handful of other capable closing options have to temper enthusiasm.

Anderson was traded from the Twins to the Marlins in November 2018 and earned a spot on the Opening Day roster, and he delivered quality innings out of the bullpen in Miami in his first taste of big-league action with a 2.71 FIP and 37.1 K% in 45 outings. The Marlins then flipped him to the Rays at the trade deadline, where he took another step forward with a 1.62 FIP and 41:2 K:BB across 21.1 innings. He recorded one save and 16 holds between the two teams. Anderson is a two-pitch pitcher and uses a curveball (40% usage) to compliment a 96-mph fastball, and he turned into one of the more dominant relievers in the league during the second half with a 45.5 K-BB%. Anderson figures to begin the 2020 campaign in a high-leverage role for the Rays, and after the team traded Emilio Pagan in February, there's a chance Anderson closes. It's not a lock, however, and even if he is the primary closer, Anderson will likely lose occasional chances based on matchups.

Anderson may be the rare 28-year-old with no major-league experience worth knowing. A 32nd-round pick by the Brewers back in 2012, Anderson never signed and instead went to the Frontier League until the Twins purchased his contract in 2015. After recording a 2.25 ERA in 183.2 minor-league innings, split over four seasons, Anderson was acquired by the Marlins, who immediately placed him on their 40-man roster. There may be no organization in baseball better to try to break in with than Miami. It would be a surprise to see him anywhere near the closer conversation early in the season, but after striking out 36.2% of batters while walking just 7.8% at Triple-A last season, it's conceivable that Anderson could work his way towards a high-leverage role as the season progresses.