The Ian Anderson era in Atlanta has officially come to an end. After showing promise during the 2020 and 2021 seasons with the Braves, Anderson struggled to develop further. Despite speculation that he could earn a spot in Atlanta’s rotation for Opening Day, it became clear that he wasn’t part of Alex Anthopoulos’ plans, leading to his trade to a familiar face in Ron Washington.
With the Braves boasting a deep and talented rotation—especially once Spencer Strider returns from injury—Anderson was likely headed for a long relief role at best. However, in Anaheim, he may have a better chance to secure a starting spot.
Anderson’s final appearance in Braves spring training came on Sunday, where he allowed two runs over three innings in a lackluster performance. That outing seemed to confirm Atlanta’s decision to move on from the former top prospect.
MLB trade grades: What did the Braves get back for Ian Anderson?
Anderson is the latest in a line of Braves pitching prospects who didn’t pan out. The hope now is that AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep don’t suffer a similar fate. Atlanta, more than most teams, understands the importance of pitching depth, as Eric Cole of House That Hank Built noted in his breakdown of the trade:
“The headliner of this deal is the Braves giving up Anderson, who came into camp with a chance of making their Opening Day rotation. Anderson literally JUST pitched for the Braves on Sunday, but it was another appearance where he couldn’t find the strike zone and managed to just barely avoid major damage. It had become pretty clear that his time with the Braves was running out, although the timing of this trade was still pretty wild,” Cole wrote.
Cole’s point stands—Anderson entered spring training with an opportunity to earn a rotation spot. However, the Braves weren’t seeing enough progress to justify giving him a role over higher-upside prospects like Smith-Shawver and Waldrep. Depth matters, but not if the available options aren’t effective. For Alex Anthopoulos and his staff, Anderson simply didn’t meet the standard for a contending team.
In return, the Braves acquired José Suarez, a pitcher with a 5.47 career ERA who hasn’t performed at that level since 2022. Over the past two seasons, his ERA has ballooned to 6.02 (2024) and 8.29 (2023). While Atlanta may see potential for a turnaround, this move feels more like taking a flyer than a strategic acquisition. The Braves were likely set to place Anderson on waivers but managed to get something in return—even if that “something” may not be an immediate contributor.
