TODAY: The White Sox officially announced that Anderson’s option has been exercised. In addition, the Sox announced that they declined their $5.5MM club option on Josh Harrison, instead paying the veteran a $1.5MM buyout.
NOVEMBER 6: The White Sox intend to pick up shortstop Tim Anderson’s $12.5MM club option for the 2023 season, per Jon Heyman of the NY Post.
As recently discussed in Tim Dierkes’ Offseason Outlook, the decision to pick up Anderson’s club option was relatively easy, as the two-time All-Star has been a strong shortstop when healthy. However, Anderson has had a tough time staying on the field. Since 2019, the 29-year-old has dealt with a right ankle injury, two right groin injuries, two left hamstring injuries, and a sagittal band tear on his left middle finger. Furthermore, since 2019 Anderson has not appeared in over 123 games, being limited to 123 games in both 2019 and 2021, while only playing 79 games in 2022.
But when he’s on the field, he’s worth every penny. Over the past four seasons, Anderson has put up a collective .318/.347/.474 slash line, earning two All-Star appearances and a Silver Slugger. Additionally, during the past four seasons, Anderson has a wRC+ of 123 — the seventh-highest mark among shortstops. While Anderson put up a weaker .301/.339/.398 slash line in 2022, he reduced his strikeout rate to an extremely low 15.7% — 7.5% lower than his career mark.
With the top free agent shortstops likely commanding salaries of $30MM or greater, Anderson is a quality bargain for a White Sox team looking to return to playoffs after falling flat in 2022.
No Brainer of the year.
Congratulations to the first good female blurnsball player in history.
Fernando is outraged
Did it come with a gag order?
Curly old sport you been down at the track for days again?!???
I’ve been sporadic, must be the oncoming winter & my love of hibernation
I hear you. My fingers are 1/2 frozen as I type..
Had to use the last four seasons for justification. It wasn’t just injuries, he is a poor defender and seems to be part of the obvious chemistry issues in the clubhouse.
Manager wasn’t the only issue with this team. Needed to make changes at the top. Without changing the folks that drafted some of these guys nothing will change
Curly – Assuming it’s horse racing you are into, I hit a very nice Exacta yesterday on the Breeders’ Cup.
But nothing will ever beat this year’s Kentucky Derby!
Fever, I was just busting Curly’s chops. He is not a degenerate gambler that I “know of.” Not like me at least. Making me wanna get down to Santa Anita…
Will he become a FA after 2023, or is there another club option for ‘24?
There is another club option for ’24.
Trade Him!
Tim Anderson should start his own team named, “Professionally Offended”
“Histrionically Outraged”
Stroman and Price are offended they weren’t asked to join.
So I guess this means the Halo’s don’t get him? Man we could use that guy..
Ah we will trade him for Ohtani.
If you have a good left hitting right fielder they might answer the phone call.
You need pitching. Lots of it. And a few bats.
I so want the Yankees to trade Donaldson to the White Sox.
And you know what? They’d probably then become best of friends. Donaldson gets along well with his teammates, but he’s a pr*ck to the opposition. The main reason we won’t see it happen is Donaldson is cooked.
That’s a steal
I’ll never understand why you guys got him but I couldn’t think of a team I’d rather have him on then yours. Astros maybe?
Now go sign Benintendi to bat behind him.
in other breaking news, water is wet
In other breaking news this was a no brainer. Side Note: The Sox training staff remains intact which means same old same old.
In other breaking news: The sky is blue, water is wet and women have secrets.
Meanwhile as an Ms fan I like a lot of what the Whitesox have, are they close to a firesale?
Fire sale no, but they will actively shed some salary via trades to retool roster/payroll allocations. 2 out of 4 of these BP arms will likely go (your M’s Graveman, Bummer, Kelly…..even Hendriks). WSox desperately need upgrades for defense at C/SS/OF and quality lefty bat(s). Tough spot b/c other vet guys like Grandal and Pollock make well over their current market value. Those are partial cash dump transaction efforts where they see how much salary anyone else will take on for final year of their deals.
Notable names like TA and maybe Eloy can be had if the other team deals them plug in players that address above weaknesses. Giolito maybe-but doubtful given his bad ’22 affecting trade value and they’ll hope he rebounds pitching for a FA contract elsewhere.
“However, Anderson has had a tough time staying on the field. Since 2019, the 29-year-old has dealt with a right ankle injury, two right groin injuries, two left hamstring injuries, and a sagittal band tear on his left middle finger.”
Shades of Kirby Kyle in “Radio Days.”
youtube.com/watch?v=L3yIHmp09jg
Whoa, hold up…this dude has two groins, right and left?Man, lucky fella.
I’m not sure that qualifies as good luck.
BTW, the Arizona Fall Stars Game is airing online right now at the MLB site if you’re interested:
mlb.com/yankees/news/watch-the-arizona-fall-league…
Let the haters and racists rejoice!
Rejoice about what?
Rejoice about HATING and being a RACIST. That’s what he said. Isn’t it. Not many of those around anymore
This doesn’t explain to me how this pertains to the Sox picking up Anderson’s option.
Yeah that’s fine-sign him up for next year. But don’t forget to also sign Andrus as we will probably need him to play often.
Clubhouse chemistry is poor.
If he is an All Star he should be worth a lot in a trade. Sox need to do the right thing and trade him while they can. Salary is manageable for any team, let them nurse him and his ego. Moncada and TA for Crawford and Suarez.of Seattle.
He didn’t put up All Star numbers and got voted in based on name recognition this Season. They won’t be able to get much for him because other teams will cite the injuries, off field issues and lackluster play in 2022.
Injuries took a toll on his slugging last year. If healthy he should be able to have an ops over 800 again. Defense is still a work in progress
Whats interesting is declining Josh Harrison, after what was a pretty good season at 2B, says a couple things about the Sox, they’re penny pinching, and they are likely relying on the farm to fill any gaps in the infield.
Thats’s Jake Burger, Romy Gonzalez, Jose Rodriguez, Lenyn Sosa and Leury Garcia to fill in any gaps across the infield.
It will be interesting to see if they sign Andrus.
Good deduct. Harrison and other vet salaries add up. Much more trimming needed to remake the roster.
You have no idea if that’s what it means. It could mean that, but it could also mean they are signing Trea Turner and… okay never mind, I couldn’t even finish that sentence I was laughing so hard…
Danny Mendick.
Josh was fun to watch but is not an upgrade over Mendick.
Maybe a reunification with Nick Madrigal if the more likely Chicago team signs a premium SS? The Cubs landing one of the 4 top free agent shortstops would push Nico Hoerner to 2B and Nicky Two Strikes into the trade market.
If the White Sox prioritize defense at 2B you could cross Jake Burger off the list and (perhaps) add Cuban AAA prospect Yolbert Sanchez. The free agent options are pretty thin at the keystone. FA shortstop Elvis Andrus seems amicable to a position change. Josh Harrison could always be signed at a cheaper cost. My best guess will be the White Sox opening day 2B comes via a trade. The options currently on the White Sox 40-man roster are best suited for utility roles, at least in 2023.
Sox will not trade for Madrigal.
Id rather see Yolbert Sanchez at 2nd, Montgomery at SS, and Anderson somewhere else..
And Mendick when he is healthy.
They have too many infielders.
I don’t think Mendick has ever been the player that threw a team into ‘too many’, other than maybe too many utility players? I like him fine, but he’s not shown a full season of being able to hold a position. And unfortunately Montgomery is definitely not ready yet.
I am sad they decided to move on from Josh Harrison. I enjoyed his energy and he really kicked into another gear late in the season with good defense and some good AB’s, which makes me think he would be a good guy to have at the keystone in the playoffs.
Comparing Anderson to FAs commanding
$30 million or more is comical.
Yeah, there is always hope, but I see Anderson is really at his ceiling… Too many errors for a -now- veteran player.. Too many singles, too many injuries..
The Hall of Fame released its eight-player Contemporary Baseball Era ballot Monday, and it includes some familiar — and controversial — names: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling. Other players to be considered for the class of 2023 include Albert Belle, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Dale Murphy and Rafael Palmeiro. Notably absent from the ballot: Sammy Sosa.
The 16-person committee, which consists of Hall of Fame players, baseball executives and veteran sportswriters, will vote on the players at the winter meetings on Dec. 4. A player must receive 12 votes to be elected.
Yes to Bonds, Clemens, Mcgriff, Murphy and Palmeiro.
Belle too
I still think they should bring back Abreu to be DH. Put Vaughn at first. Trade Sheets and Jimenez. Abreu still hits well, is a good leader and has been quite durable.
If healthy, I believe, Eloy could hit 40 homers. It would be very risky trading him.
With Jimenez injured so much recently I just don’t think you get that much in a trade, and Sheets doesn’t bring back much either. Sheets as depth, with Vaughn at first and Jimenez at DH… maybe Conforto in LF or RF with Colas taking the other side?
I think you got it reversed, keep Eloy and let Abreu go. Eloy is fine for DH, and likely will be much healthier there, and will be a lot more of a dangerous bat than Abreu at this point. I saw Abreu swing late through wayyy too many fastballs, and you typically do not get better as you get older (without some artificial help anyway). He is also such a ‘good leader that the entire Sox team gave up last season when they should have been in the playoffs. I guess there is a chance that he will be reinvigorated, but Abreu does not want to DH, and are they willing to stunt Vaughn’s growth another season for ‘maybe’?. Vaughn at first, and Sheets in a platoon situation at 1st, DH (when Eloy gets hurt), OF (very rarely), and pinch hitter.
This was expected. The last option decision remaining will be up to A.J. Pollock. He is expected to exercise his $10M player option by the Thursday deadline based on his poor 2022 season.
Maybe Arizona would take Pollock back in a trade for 1yr of his “veteran presence” on a young club after he opts in with WSox. Not the entire salary of course, but decent enough chunk of the 10mil and a cursory never going to make it prospect sent back.
White Sox ain’t Joshin’ this year.
Here’s hoping the new manager is effective at getting the most out of every player.
Nutragenix fan, are you?
Picked up Anderson’s option.. I hope there is a “Anderson is traded to the ‘ coming soon as well.
WIsh there was a spot in Pittsburgh for Harrison. Can someone teach him catcher or 1b maybe stretch him out to be the opening day starter? haha.
Just love watching him play. Would love to see him and Cutch on in the black and gold together before they’re done.
Have to re sign him if you want to trade him
So I was sitting in Bridgeport coffee having a cup of Joe. Guess who comes walking in but Alex Cintron himself. You remember him member ? Ok so after he ordered a scone I asked him about Tim
Anderson. He said he is in the process of making a comeback and will be ready for spring training 2023. Wow I couldn’t believe my ears. Yes Sox fans you heard it here first !!
This bums me out. Josh Harrison got stronger as the season went along culminating in a hot September, I know all you real fans remember that incredible catch he made back when there was still a glimmer of hope. He seems like a gamer, and damn he gives his team a full season of service. I would have welcomed another year from him at 2B.
Hoping TA gets a grip on things, as well as his game in 2023. Leave the attitude at home and come to win!