Braves Rumors: Pitching help signed, Michael Soroka struggling, cheap trade target

Braves Rumors: Rays DFA’ing Chase Anderson presents perfect trade target

Sticking with the theme of pitching, if the Braves don’t see Soroka back on the 26-man roster sometime soon and Justus Sheffield doesn’t work out, they could still be looking for short-term fixes that are easy, cheap, and could potentially develop into a longer-term piece for the rest of the season.

The Tampa Bay Rays may have all but handed Atlanta a perfect option.

To make room for Jake Diekman on the big-league roster, the Rays designated veteran Chase Anderson for assignment, meaning that Tampa Bay can either trade him, place him on waivers, or he could choose to not accept the assignment and hit free agency if he clears waivers.

Admittedly, the past few seasons bouncing around the majors haven’t been pretty for Anderson. He’s made 33 appearances and 23 starts over the past three seasons with the Blue Jays, Phillies and Reds, going 5-10 with a 6.81 ERA and 1.495 WHIP over that span. With the Rays this year, though, he made two relief appearances, lasting five innings and giving up no runs and only three base-runners.

Considering the depth of pitching the Rays have, they could be willing to let the 35-year-old hit waivers or go in a trade for next to nothing. Though Alex Anthopolous doesn’t plan on making a trade right now, this is too easy of an option to not consider as someone to deepen the bullpen for bullpen games or even as a spot starter.