Tyler Anderson, LAA
Ranked No. 13 on Bleacher Report's MLB trade deadline big board, Tyler Anderson has looked more like the pitcher who had a career year with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 than the starter who struggled in his first season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023. The left-hander is sporting a 7-7 record on a 35-46 Angels team this season, with a 2.63 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.
One of the Angels' few bright spots, Anderson has outperformed his expected numbers. He has a 4.71 xERA, although that's still better than Walker's 5.60 ERA and 6.31 xERA.
His batted ball profile is similar to the Phillies hurler, with a 35.7 percent ground ball rate and a 45.9 percent fly ball rate. He only strikes hitters out at a 15.9 percent clip and has an 11.2 percent walk rate, but he has gotten away with it thanks to an 86.6 percent strand rate and a .225 BABIP.
Walker's alarming 14 percent barrel rate and 51.2 percent hard-hit rate have led to lots of damage against him. Anderson's metrics are much more palatable. The 31-year-old has a 9.2 percent barrel rate and a 34.6 percent hard-hit rate this season.
One catch is that he might come with too high a price tag. He's in his second season of a three-year contract that will see him get paid $13 million next year.