Shaun Anderson, Jordan Romano leave Angels, choose free agency after DFA moves

Salt Lake’s pitching shuffle got another jolt when Shaun Anderson cleared waivers, was outrighted to Triple-A, and then chose free agency anyway. For the Angels, that is more than a paperwork note. It is another reminder that the up-and-down arm pipeline between Anaheim and Salt Lake City can lose its veteran safety net in a single afternoon.

Anderson was designated for assignment on April 26, then passed through waivers unclaimed. Because he had previously been outrighted in his career, he had the right to reject the assignment and walk straight into free agency. The 31-year-old right-hander had worked 16 2/3 innings for the Angels this season, allowing 11 earned runs on 17 hits and eight walks while striking out 12. His major league résumé now spans parts of seven seasons, with a 6.35 ERA.

The Angels know exactly what Anderson could provide when the innings pile up. He spent most of 2025 with Salt Lake, where he logged 116 2/3 innings and posted a 6.02 ERA. That kind of workload matters at Triple-A, especially when the big league club is cycling through relievers, spot starters, and emergency depth. With Anderson gone, Salt Lake loses a veteran arm who had already shown he could soak up innings and keep the staff from burning through the younger pitchers behind him.

Jordan Romano’s exit only deepened the churn. The Angels designated him for assignment on April 26 after a rough start to 2026, and MLB’s transactions log showed he was released on April 27. Romano had signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Angels on December 17, 2025, but never found traction, putting up a 7.11 ERA in nine appearances before the club moved on.

The same transaction wave also hit Salt Lake from the other direction. Los Angeles placed catcher Logan O’Hoppe on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist fracture, selected Sebastián Rivero’s contract from Salt Lake, recalled José Fermin, and selected left-hander Joey Lucchesi from the Bees. That kind of roster movement opens doors for the next wave of Triple-A pitchers, but it also strips Salt Lake of proven depth in a hurry.