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After adding to the bullpen by signing Alex Colomé yesterday, the Twins made another addition, sending away a young outfielder in the process:
The #MNTwins announced today that they have acquired right-handed pitcher Shaun Anderson from the San Francisco Giants, in exchange for outfielder LaMonte Wade, Jr.
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) February 5, 2021
Welcome to MN Shaun! pic.twitter.com/1gwhDqRuiV
Shaun Anderson moved from the Giants’ rotation to their bullpen in 2020 and lowered his ERA from 5.44 to 3.52. Last year, Anderson relied on his slider (sounds familiar?), throwing the pitch 53.4 percent of the time, while using his fastball as his second pitch.
LaMonte Wade Jr. has been a high-contact, good-eye, minimal-power outfielder during parts of the past two seasons in Minnesota. In 2019, he walked more times (11) than he struck out (nine).
Neither Anderson nor Wade has been more than 0.3 bWAR away from perfectly average in either of the two seasons of their careers. Perhaps the change of scenery will give Wade more opportunity to play; perhaps Anderson will take on a Matt Wisler-like role in the bullpen.
Of course, no season is built on “perhaps.” We’ll get a hint of what will be to come when spring training begins.
Best of luck to LaMonte in San Francisco. Welcome to Minnesota, Shaun!