The former first round pick of Atlanta heads to California.
The Atlanta Braves have moved on from former first round pick Ian Anderson with the announcement that the pitcher has been traded to the Los Angeles Angels for pitcher Jose Suarez.
Angels acquire Ian Anderson from Braves for Jose Suarez
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 23, 2025
Anderson, who has not appeared at the MLB level since 2022, was the number three overall pick of the 2016 draft and started 52 regular season games for the Braves since debuting in 2020. He received NL Rookie of the Year votes in both 2020 and 2021.
Suarez, 27, has appeared in 99 MLB games with the left-hander starting 61 of them. He’s been roughly a league average pitcher in his career after debuting in 2019.
Anderson, 26, had been battling for either the last spot in the starting rotation or for a bullpen role, but struggled with command during Spring Training. Coming into today’s game, he had walked 18 batters in 17 innings. In today’s game, he tossed three shutout innings in relief but walked two more batters.
The Braves signed free agent reliever Jesse Chavez to a minor league contract earlier today. Chavez, who pitched two innings for the Braves in today’s game, could make the team as a long-man. Atlanta moving on from Anderson likely means that AJ Smith-Sawver will start the the season in the Braves’ rotation.
Anderson had a 22-13 record with Atlanta during the regular season. He made only 22 starts for the team in 2022 and underwent “Tommy John” surgery on his pitching below in April 2023. Although he returned to pitch in the organization’s minor league system last season, he was unable to earn a promotion to the big league squad.
In the post season is where Anderson shined for Atlanta. He had a 4-0 record with a 1.26 ERA in eight starts in 2020 and 2021, striking out 40 in 35.2 innings. That included a sterling start in Game 3 of the 2021 World Series, tossing five shutout innings.
As for Suarez, he is out of options like Anderson, so the Braves would have to keep in on the 26-man roster or risk losing him. If he does make the Opening Day roster, he’d add left-handed depth that could start, if needed. It seems as though that will happen.
Jose Suarez is going to be on the Braves’ Opening Day roster.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) March 23, 2025
His best season came in 2021 and 2022, but he has never pitched in more than 109 inning in a single season. He has struggled mightily in the past two season, working mainly from the bullpen.