In a sign of how hot the starting pitching market will be this winter, the first one off the board is … Andrew Heaney?! The left-hander and the Dodgers agreed to terms on a one-year deal on Wednesday night, the team announced. The deal is reported to be worth over $8 million.
That is the same left-handed Andrew Heaney that had a short and disastrous stint with the Yankees this season. The 30-year-old pitched to a 7.32 ERA in 12 appearances, including five starts, with the Bombers, who acquired him from the Angels at the trade deadline.
Heaney struck out 37 and walked 10 over 35 innings in that span. He gave up 13 homers, which made it hard for the Bombers to keep running him out there. He was designated and hung around the Yankees facility in Tampa while they prepared for the American League Wild Card game, but elected free agency after the Bombers were bounced by the Red Sox.
Overall, the home runs really hurt Heaney in 2021. In 30 appearances between the Angels and Yankees, he gave up a career-high 29 homers, tied for the sixth-most by a qualified pitcher this season.
But, the Yankees were encouraged by Heaney’s ability to get hitters to chase, which was ranked among the 91st percentile in the big leagues and swing and miss rate, which was among the top 66th percentile.
Overall, Heaney pitched to a 5.83 ERA with a 10.41 K/9 rate and 7.84 BB/9 rate this season
The deal the Dodgers have given Heaney is comparable to the one the Blue Jays gave to Robbie Ray for the 2021 season. Ray, who pitched to a 6.62 ERA in 2020, is considered the favorite for this year’s AL Cy Young.
