Braves have rival Mets to thank to one of better pitchers on roster

Nick Anderson has been on the best finds in the Atlanta Braves bullpen this season. The New York Mets passed on Anderson in free agency.

Nick Anderson, who sat out much of the last two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery, is looking much like his old self in Atlanta. The Braves took a flyer on Anderson this offseason as a right-handed reliever and it has paid dividends so far.

Just a month ago Anderson was battling for a spot in the Atlanta bullpen. There was a chance he wouldn’t make the roster when he reported to spring training. That quickly evaporated when the Braves coaching staff saw what he was capable of.

Anderson began he career in 2019 with Miami and then Tampa Bay after a deadline move. He made 68 appearances to the tune of a 3.32 ERA and 110 strikeouts.

Braves stole Nick Anderson from the Mets

New York had a chance to land Anderson, but was scared off by his medicals.

Anderson knows that his past suggests he can be an All-Star level pitcher, but the Braves will take what they can get. As for the 32-year-old, he’s not chasing his own ghost at this point in his career. He’s happy for every outing he can get.

“Do I think I can absolutely get back there? Yeah, 100 percent,” Anderson said prior to the season, via The Athletic. “But it’s not chasing that. Just slowing things down and just trying to go out and have fun and play, and not worry about my arm anymore, because my arm feels good. And ultimately, I think just doing that alone will kind of end up letting me get back to where I was before.”

Anderson has been all that the Braves can ask for, especially as they wait for Raisel Iglesias to return to form.