Dodgers sign former Rays reliever who they destroyed in 2020 World Series

In 2020, Nick Anderson was the real deal. He pitched well for Tampa Bay the rest of the season, pitching 21 1/3 innings for a 2.11 ERA after being moved from the Marlins to the Rays at the 2019 trade deadline. He pitched 16 1/3 innings for an absurd 0.55 ERA the next year, during the COVID-shortened season, earning him a spot on the All-MLB First Team that season. Yes, the sample size was small, but he also had a 14.3% strikeout-to-walk ratio and a projected batting average against of.140.

However, as he reached the postseason, everything collapsed. He had previously gone there with the Rays in 2019 and performed admirably, but he faltered in the Wild Card, ALDS, and ALCS pitching slightly under 12 innings while allowing 11 hits and 6 runs against the Blue Jays, Yankees, and Astros. Even still, the Rays won, and he entered the World Series against the Dodgers even more worn out and exhausted than when he started.

There were more trials ahead for him. Throughout Games 2, 4, and the pivotal 6, he threw three innings and gave up three runs. It was he who relieved Blake Snell following Kevin Cash’s contentious decision to withdraw him, and it was he who threw a wild pitch that gave the Dodgers the opportunity to score the game-tying run.

He’s joining the Dodgers nearly four years after he was let go. After a brief period of free agency, he signed a minor-league contract with LA after being released by the Royals on July 18.

Check out MLB insider Robert Murray’s work on The Baseball Insiders podcast for more news and rumors, and join the discord channel to get the inside word as we near the July 30 MLB trade deadline.