In a move reflecting both long-term development goals and short-term roster needs, the Los Angeles Angels designated right-hander Shaun Anderson for assignment and promoted top pitching prospect Caden Dana to the big league bullpen ahead of Saturday’s game against the Marlins. The transaction was first reported by Sam Blum of The Athletic.
Anderson, 30, has struggled to establish himself over six MLB seasons, bouncing between eight franchises including the Giants, Twins, Orioles, Padres, Blue Jays, Rangers, Marlins, and Angels. Across 162 career innings, the former third-round pick holds a 6.11 ERA, with a 16.8% strikeout rate and 8.7% walk rate, while allowing 13.5% of fly balls to leave the park. He posted a 6.30 ERA in 10 innings for the Angels this season, including a rough outing Friday in which he allowed four runs in just 1 1/3 innings.
While Anderson’s track record in the majors is rocky, he flashed potential abroad, posting a 3.76 ERA in 14 starts with the KBO’s Kia Tigers in 2023. In the minors, he has maintained a respectable 3.86 ERA across 349 1/3 Triple-A innings, which could make him a depth option if he clears waivers.
Dana’s Development Continues in the Bigs
Replacing Anderson is 21-year-old Caden Dana, the Angels’ No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 65 overall. Dana, the youngest player currently in the American League, made his second MLB appearance of the season on Saturday after being scratched from a scheduled Triple-A start. He was called up to serve as a long reliever and logged the final three innings of a 6–2 loss to the Marlins that ended the Angels’ eight-game winning streak — their longest since 2014.
The outing had its ups and downs. Dana struggled in his first inning, throwing 41 pitches (only 21 for strikes), walking three and surrendering a three-run homer to Connor Norby on a 1-2 changeup. He finished the night with three runs allowed on three hits and four walks, striking out four.
“After the first inning, he settled in and he saved the bullpen,” said manager Ron Washington. “We got a chance to stay away from some guys that we needed to keep down. If he could have made the pitch, three runs wouldn’t have been on the board. But he didn’t.”
Following the outing, the Angels announced Dana would be optioned back to Triple-A with lefty Jake Eder taking his roster spot. Eder, 25, has a 4.78 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings at Triple-A Salt Lake and is stretched out after throwing six innings earlier this week.
Big League Taste, Big League Lessons
Though Dana’s stint was brief, the experience appears to be a calculated developmental step. Washington downplayed any concern about Dana’s progress being impacted by the short stay:
“That’s not going to stagnate his development,” Washington said pregame. “We’re gonna do what we have to do to help us, and right now, we feel like he’s the guy who can help us.”
Dana made his MLB debut last September, making three starts and going 1-2 with a 9.58 ERA over 10 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs in a three-inning relief outing earlier this season against Cleveland on April 4. Reflecting on his early time in the bullpen, Dana said:
“That definitely helped, coming up here early and coming out of the bullpen for the first time. It made me feel more comfortable with it.”
This year at Triple-A, Dana has a 5.21 ERA with 41 strikeouts and 16 walks over 38 innings. That includes a strong 3.28 ERA over his first six starts, before running into trouble in his last two, giving up 11 runs in 5 1/3 innings.
“Honestly, just mentally, just being day to day,” Dana said of his development focus. “Did a couple little things here and there, mechanically with the front side a little bit and being more deceptive.”
His biggest takeaway so far?
“Throw strikes,” Dana said. “Most of the times when I got into trouble was when I got behind in the counts and walked guys. So get ahead with your stuff and trust it’s going to be there.”
Los Angeles Angels in the Wild Card Hunt
The Angels’ aggressive roster maneuvering reflects a sense of urgency. As of the weekend, their eight-game win streak had brought them to a .500 record, just 1.5 games out of an AL Wild Card spot. The club appears willing to experiment with using Dana in the bullpen while he continues to refine his repertoire — a common path for top pitching prospects, with Chris Sale’s early career in Chicago serving as a prime example.
June 6 also marks the City Connect Hawaiian Shirt Giveaway, but the club’s focus is clearly on keeping their postseason hopes alive. For Dana, it’s another chance to learn and grow at the game’s highest level — and for the Angels, it’s a calculated bet that could pay dividends down the stretch.