Lefty pitcher Tyler Anderson embraces chance to start anew with the Pirates amid rebuild

When the Pittsburgh Pirates showed interest in signing Tyler Anderson, the left-handed pitcher saw something familiar in the idea of joining a club trying to change the culture while going through a rebuild.

Anderson was a freshman when Spring Valley High School opened in Las Vegas, then went to Oregon in 2009 after its varsity baseball program returned from a 27-year hiatus. Anderson became a second-team All-American and was drafted in the first round by the Colorado Rockies in 2011.

So the idea of starting anew isn’t anything new to Anderson.

“I know the culture over here they want to create is a winning culture, and I don’t think that had any involvement in them signing me but, for me, I love the idea because I’ve been through it a few times and it’s just fun,” Anderson said Wednesday from Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla., the first day of workouts for pitchers and catchers.

“It’s a lot of guys that are searching for something, and it’s really easy to create an identity together. And it would be fun to go through that journey together with some guys and kind of create that, see what we can do.”

The Pirates announced Wednesday the official signing of Anderson, who agreed to a one-year contract worth $2.5 million that makes him the team’s highest-paid pitcher and fourth-highest paid player. To clear room for Anderson on the 40-man roster, the Pirates placed right-hander Jose Soriano on the 60-day injured list. Soriano, the top pick in the Rule 5 Draft, is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

“I definitely think he helps stabilize our rotation,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “There’s a couple things I like: No. 1, left-handed; the ability to execute all four pitches; he’s a guy who’s pitched in the National League for a little bit; and he threw 60 innings last year. That’s a good chunk of innings in a 60-game season. Looking for stability, we did some research on the person and came back with really positive stuff. I had the opportunity to talk to him at length today, so it’s nice to add him to the mix.”

The 31-year-old Anderson becomes the veteran of a staff that lost four-fifths of its starting rotation from the past two seasons, trading Joe Musgrove and Jameson Taillon, cutting ties with Trevor Williams and allowing Derek Holland to leave via free agency.

Anderson has spent his entire major league career in the NL, compiling a 22-27 record with a 4.65 ERA and 1.340 WHIP in 82 carer starts, including an 18-24 record with a 4.69 ERA in 71 starts with the Rockies.

Anderson had his best season in 2020 with the San Francisco Giants, going 4-3 with a 4.27 ERA in 59 ²⁄₃ innings over 11 starts.

He threw his first career complete game in a 5-1 win over Arizona on Aug. 22, and he won three of his final four starts in September. He was one of five pitchers to record four or more games of at least five innings pitched and no earned runs last season, along with AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber of Cleveland (six), Kansas City’s Brad Keller (five), Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes and St. Louis’ Kwang Hyun Kim (four each).

With a four-pitch repertoire — fastball, cutter, curveball and changeup — and a funky windup that features a pause before his delivery, Anderson got a ringing endorsement from someone who could be called a brother in arms.

Steven Brault is thrilled to add another left-hander to the rotation.

“Of course I like having another lefty. Lefties are different. We’re just odd,” Brault said. “Hopefully, he’s another weirdo. Based on his delivery, I think he probably is sort of a weirdo. So that’s cool. I can’t wait to get to know him better and pitch with another lefty.”

Anderson will join a rotation that is expected to feature Brault and right-handers Mitch Keller, Chad Kuhl and JT Brubaker, with Wil Crowe and Cody Ponce also in consideration. Anderson is looking forward to pitching at PNC Park for the first time in his career. He was on the injured list after surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee when the Rockies visited in 2019.

“I really like the fit here, and I like the league and I’ve always liked the Pirates. I love PNC Park. I’ve always liked the city of Pittsburgh,” Anderson said. “So being here just sounded like a lot of fun to me.”