The Toronto Blue Jays’ longstanding interest in left-hander Brett Anderson hasn’t disappeared, even after an injury-plagued year. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reported that numerous teams are interested in acquiring Anderson from the Oakland Athletics, particularly the Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays have pursued Anderson for two years and had a scout following him at the end of the 2013 season, according to Slusser. MLB teams routinely scout potentially available players, so the Blue Jays are not necessarily targeting the 25-year-old.
Anderson missed much of the 2013 season with a stress fracture in his right foot, starting five games and pitching in 11 contests as a reliever. He posted a 6.04 ERA, striking out 46 in 44.2 innings.
Oakland general manager Billy Beane has suggested the Athletics will exercise Anderson’s 2014 contract option, which is valued at $8 million with a $1.5 million buyout. Alternatively, the Athletics could decline the option and go to salary arbitration with the five-year MLB veteran.
The Blue Jays, who have stated interest in upgrading their rotation this off-season, have indicated that they’ll be cautious about pursuing pitchers viewed as health risks this winter. Their interest in Anderson may have diminished due to his recent trouble staying healthy.
“Very few players are, for lack of a better term, clean in terms of their (medical) file,” Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos said on the final day of the regular season. “If we are willing to take (a health risk), maybe that will influence us in terms of the acquisition cost, or what we would pay.”
Anderson started 30 games as a rookie in 2009, but has started fewer than 20 games in each year since.
The Blue Jays already have a number of question marks in their rotation at this stage, so they’re expected to seek some certainty to complement the likes of Brandon Morrow, Kyle Drabek and Drew Hutchison.
