5 Atlanta Braves who don’t deserve to make the 40-man roster
By Tim Boyle
4) Why Nick Anderson doesn’t deserve a spot on the Braves 40-man roster
From one Anderson to another, Nick Anderson has proven even less as a member of the Braves than Ian Anderson. He spent all of last season in the minors for the Tampa Bay Rays, posting a 5.19 ERA in 17.1 innings of work.
This Anderson is a bit of a mystery. In 87.1 big league innings, he does have a 2.89 ERA. It makes him enticing to have stashed away. However, at 32 years old already, expectations shouldn’t be high if they even exist at all.
His presence on the 40-man roster is a case of the Braves signing a free agent and being forced to include him there. He is only there for depth. As a newcomer to the organization with very little proven at the MLB level, it’s hard to say he deserves his 40-man roster spot over some of the younger Braves pitchers within the organization. Anderson may still get a promotion before any of them. He has minor league options remaining which is not something every pitcher on their 40-man roster has. Still unproven over a lengthy period of time, it’s hard to argue he should be on the 40-man roster over someone like Jesse Chavez who has had success with the Braves already.
We’ll have to see how things unfold once spring starts. Anderson could be anything from a wise addition to the Braves or an early-season DFA.