3 trade deadline options for Phillies to replace Taijuan Walker in the rotation

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.