Dodgers' Brett Anderson to undergo back surgery, out 3 to 5 months
Brett Anderson, expected to be at least the No. 3 starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers, needs back surgery and will be out three to five months, manager Dave Roberts announced Thursday.
Anderson, 28, accepted the Dodgers’ $15.8 million qualifying offer and returned to the club after he won 10 games and pitched a career-high 180 1/3 innings in 2015. But the left-hander, who has struggled with injuries throughout his career, has a bulging disk in his back that will require surgery.
It’s a significant loss for the Dodgers, but one they can sustain because they opted for quantity over high-end quality in their rotation. After No. 1 starter Clayton Kershaw, the club is expected to roll out free agent signees Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda.
In Anderson’s absence, a large group of starters can make up the absence. Left-hander Alex Wood becomes a far more vital piece of the puzzle, as does right-hander Mike Bolsinger. And the recovery of Hyun-jin Ryu from 2015 shoudler surgery gains more import.
With such depth, the Dodgers don’t necessarily need to look externally to fill Anderson’s spot. Free agent right-hander Tim Lincecum is expected to hold a showcase workout for scouts to show he’s recovered from hip surgery. Others remaining on the market include Alfredo Simon and Aaron Harang.