NORTH PORT, Fla. — Ian Anderson’s time with the Braves ended on Sunday afternoon, as the team announced they had traded him to the Angels for left-handed reliever.
Anderson’s hopes of earning Atlanta’s fifth starter spot vanished after he allowed 20 walks in 20 innings this spring. The 26-year-old pitcher, selected by Atlanta with the third overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, has had difficulty recapturing the potential he showed prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2023.
Suarez is out of Minor League options, which makes him a potential candidate for Atlanta’s Opening Day roster as a long-relief pitcher. AJ Smith-Shawver, ranked as the Braves’ No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, appears to have pulled ahead of Anderson in the competition for the fifth spot in the starting rotation.
Suarez recorded a 3.86 ERA across 45 appearances (including 34 starts) for the Angels between 2021 and 2022. However, he has struggled more recently, posting a 6.91 ERA over 33 outings (10 starts) spanning the 2023-24 seasons.
Thank you, Ian! pic.twitter.com/EUMi3vn8AC
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) March 23, 2025
The Braves might also consider Jesse Chavez for the long-relief role. Chavez, who rejoined the team on a Minor League deal Saturday after being released by the Rangers, pitched two innings in a 5-5 tie against the Orioles on Sunday, giving up three hits and two walks.
Anderson added two more walks during his outing, throwing three scoreless innings after Chavez. His time with Atlanta began to decline in 2022, when his struggles resulted in a demotion to Triple-A Gwinnett for the final months of the season. Still, he’ll be remembered for playing a key role in Atlanta’s 2021 World Series championship. In eight career postseason starts, he has compiled an impressive 1.26 ERA.
