According to Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Atlanta Braves made a significant move on Tuesday by signing Brian Anderson to a major-league contract. Anderson, a right-handed hitter, has primarily played third base and right field during his seven-year MLB career. To accommodate Anderson on the 40-man roster, the Braves transferred reliever Tyler Matzek to the 60-day injured list.
The #Braves today signed INF Brian Anderson to a major league contract and he will be active for tonight’s game at Boston. To make room on the 40-man roster, Atlanta transferred LHP Tyler Matzek to the 60-day injured list.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 4, 2024
The Seattle Mariners initially signed Brian Anderson to a minor-league contract. After not securing a spot on the Opening Day roster, Anderson joined Triple-A Tacoma. Despite his impressive performance in the minors, where he hit .270/.358/.439 with seven home runs and six doubles in 176 plate appearances, Seattle chose not to promote him to the major league roster before his June 1 opt-out. Consequently, Anderson exercised his opt-out over the weekend, making him a free agent.
The Atlanta Braves have now signed the 31-year-old to a major-league deal. Anderson, who spent six years with the Miami Marlins after being drafted by them in the third round of the 2014 draft, quickly established himself as a regular in the Marlins’ lineup and one of their top players upon his debut in 2017.
During his tenure with the Marlins from 2018 to 2020, Anderson posted a batting line of .266/.350/.436 (111 OPS+), hitting 42 home runs and 74 doubles in 1,419 plate appearances. While he may not be a lineup centerpiece, Anderson’s consistent performance makes him a valuable complementary bat.
Moreover, Anderson brings versatility to the Braves with his ability to play multiple positions. Throughout his career, he has logged significant innings in both the outfield (primarily in right field) and at third base.
His defensive contributions include earning 9 Defensive Runs Saved in the outfield and 2 at third base. Although he may not cover a lot of ground, Anderson’s strong arm makes him effective at both positions.
