The White Sox have told interested teams they have no plans to trade shortstop Tim Anderson this offseason, reports Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic. The 29-year-old will be back for an eighth season on Chicago’s south side.
It’d have been more surprising if the Sox were listening to offers on Anderson, who has emerged as a catalyst at the top of the lineup. He’s been selected to the All-Star Game in each of the past two seasons, and he finished seventh in AL MVP balloting during the abbreviated 2020 campaign. The righty-hitting infielder has hit above .300 four years running, posting above-average offensive marks overall.
Despite the second consecutive All-Star nomination, Anderson’s actually coming off a relative down season. He hit .301 but posted more pedestrian marks in on-base percentage (.339) and slugging (.395). His six home runs proved a career low, due in large part to a late-season injury that cut his year short. Anderson missed the season’s final couple months after suffering a tendon injury in his left middle finger, an issue that required surgery.
Still, there’s little question he’d have found significant appeal on the trade market. There’s no expectation the injury will affect him next season, and he’s playing on an eminently affordable contract. The Sox exercised a $12.5MM option on his services for 2023, and his contract also contains a $14MM club option for 2024. Barring injury or an unexpected down year, next year’s option should also be an easy call for the team to trigger.
Chicago had a disappointing season overall, finishing the 2022 campaign at 81-81 despite entering the season as AL Central favorites. They’re trying to rebound and make another run at the division, and it’s easy enough to understand why they wouldn’t subtract one of their top position players as part of that effort. At the same time, Chicago general manager Rick Hahn acknowledged at this week’s Winter Meetings the front office would have to be more open than they were previously to shaking up the roster after a down year (link via Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times). To that end, they’ve reportedly had some trade discussions about closer Liam Hendriks with other teams, although there’s no suggestion they’re actively shopping the All-Star righty.
Hahn has indicated on a few occasions the Sox are likelier to make any marquee additions via trade than free agency. James Fegan of the Athletic has previously reported they hope to open the season with a player payroll around $180MM. Roster Resource projects their payroll in the $179MM range at present, so the front office likely doesn’t have much breathing room at its disposal. Van Schouwen writes that the Sox are still seeking corner outfield and second base help, meaning they could potentially look to deal players on loftier salaries to free some spending room. Anderson apparently won’t be one of the players under consideration for such a deal though.
Teams seeking shortstop help but unwilling to pay top-of-the-market prices for Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts or Dansby Swanson are left with few alternatives. Elvis Andrus is the clear next-best shortstop available in free agency, while the trade market doesn’t have many obvious candidates. Amed Rosario and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are among the players who could theoretically be available, but neither has been firmly linked to any trade rumors this offseason. Meanwhile, Anderson and Milwaukee star Willy Adames seem as if they’ll stay put despite some early-offseason speculation they might be made available.
No one would trade for him because no one would take his contract.
Corrected it for them.
TA’s contract is a team friendly $26.5MIL for two more controllable years.
Why not? Those are two cheap years Anderson has left with this year and the club option.
12.5m for an all star shortstop is a bad contract? Unless you know something from his medical notes that I don’t, that’s a pretty absurd statement.
How is his contract bad at all? Do you know what you’re talking about?
A all star caliber shortstop for $12.5 mil and a $14 mil option? Terrible, who would feel comfortable paying some one $10-$15 mil under market.
Most teams can’t afford that market, so that is an absurd statement for about 20 teams.
He is also 30 and coming off a down season. Face it, teams don’t want to pay double digit millions in the future for guys who are possibly backsliding.
Maybe it’s an aberration, maybe not but he is soon to be 30 and there are other options out there.
He has 2 years left for under 30 mil. Literally every team could afford that.
This one belongs to the Reds;
There are many small market teams posters on here.
You seem to be on a mission, and don;t know much about how MLB works or is played.
Mute.
The braves could afford him and that’s saying sometging about how cheap his next two years are.
And would claim him if placed on waivers today.
Reds , you’re having a tough day today bro. This was a dumb take and yet you’ve outdone yourself with three or four even worse.
Step away from the site and read a book or two.
With what he’s accomplished, any other team would offer him a contract extension. But this is the wsox.
You can dislike him all you want but he’s a good player on a very affordable contract as written in the article. Your statement doesn’t make sense.
Yeah he just trolling. Also a clutch hitter – .580 in the playoffs
Bad contract?
Nope
Its funny, the arrogance of some people when they make a blisteringly ignorant take such as this.
I can think of at least 20 teams that would take Tim Anderson and his contract right now.
So you’d rather pay $300 mil for Correa? His contract is a steal considering the going rate for all-star shortstops.
Lol what? He’d net a decent return without the Sox paying a dime.
Go Sox!!
The Sox had a second baseman and could get him on the cheap. Elvis Andrus. He not only played a very good as in TA’s absence, he put some much needed life into that team. He said he would like to play for the Sox next season and would be willing to switch to 2b.
Unfortunately the Sox currently have as many potential 2B players as 1B/DH.
Andrus deserves and may demand SS money.
If TA could bring the Sox a stud OF… I would say trade him and sign Andrus to play SS until Montgomery is ready to take over in a couple of years.
This would be a silly year to trade him anyway, with all of the FA SSs out there. Next year is when it’s more likely to happen, if things go south again.
I like Tim, and think he’s a useful part of the team, but as his injuries piled up this year it made it clear that we might have to consider moving on eventually – shortstops often take a bit more wear and tear than other players, and he’s clearly in the part of his career; he hasn’t hit 125 games or more since 2018 (123 twice, and the shortened season he played 49 of 60, albeit most of that was due to suspension). We’ll keep him for 2023 and likely 2024, but whether he is resigned or not will depend heavily on the games played for those seasons.
Why in the world would they without an overpay? Look what productive SS make. That division is competitive.
Yeah. On the down side.
Wish they would trade him to the National League just so he won’t kill the Tigers 18 times/yr. (I know they won’t meet as much in the future).
If he just played the Tigers Anderson would be in the HOF.
I bet that guy has a .lifetime 500 BA vs. Detroit.
Close! He has a career .347/.385/.518 triple slash against Detroit. He also seems to crush the Twins and Royals as he owns a career .306/.341/.463 and .313/.349/.454 triple slash against those two teams. Interestingly enough, he’s been putrid against the Orioles and Cubs in a decent-sized sample.
There are some other teams he’s performed well and not well against but they’re such small samples they weren’t worth referencing.
“Field of Dreams” game hero seen around the world! Go TA#7!
Yeah. Right over judge’s head. Brilliant!
Sox fans don’t get much to cheer about but that was a damn good game. I was so pissed when Liam blew the save but wouldn’t have had that huge walk off without it. Also Abreu having the first major league home run in Iowa was awesome as well.
An irrelevant game in the cornfield especially since they would lose the next two games to NYY
He’s one who could be a career White Sock- does a lot of work with the team’s RBI program and ACE program promoting ball clubs in the inner city, a program that just won the MLB Bud Selig philanthropy award. His annual Sneaker ball charity event for the Tim and Bria League of Leaders foundation is a major initiative- Dylan, Liam, Vaughn and Kopech were among his teammates on hand
The Sox claim they are going to make a trade to shake things up. They won’t trade Robert so that leaves only Eloy or Vaughn as the only players left that have trade value.
They won’t trade Vaughn, they let Abreu leave to give him first base.
Sheets and Grandal can also play first.
All this talk about Hendriks and Vaughn being traded when it’s grandal who’s got to go!
I agree but he doesn’t have any trade value.
Hendriks (2yrs for suitors)is really about it for decent return. A revved up Giolito looking to rebound in his walk year has more value to WSox in long shot attempt to make the expanded 6 team playoff. Ditto Lynn and Clevinger on expiring deals. Don’t see Giolito fetching much unless maybe paired with Hendriks.
Eloy/Robert they just flat out need badly to be healthy and prove the hype/extensions warranted.
Vaughn is next good 1B following Big Hurt/Konerko/Abreu.
If they do some partial cash dumps at C and a certain older bullpen guy, it is another way to add some lefty bat balance.
Gio has value, ask any GM, as does as of today and with all of the FA SS’s still available and looking for $30 million+ per year, Tim Anderson. But, Hendriks right now, has the most value though, he’s making 13 million this season, with a 15 million club option for next season. Jansen just got what 16 million per from the Red Sox?
So long as they don’t trade Colson who I think succeeds TA at SS, with Anderson possibly moving to 2b or the OF.
TA is one of the few bright spots on this team, I would hope they have no intention of trading him. At least not now.
Not even to the Yankees so he can play with Josh Donaldson?
Let them all play until the Trade deadline if they are underperforming like I suspect they will be you can trade them all it’s time.
Trade them all
What a useful article. *eyeroll
Haha whooooo stop the presses fellas a top 5 ss with an albatross contract ain’t goin anywhere
I used to be a big fan and defender of Anderson (both offensively and defensively), but lets face it, its 12M now for a shortstop that is a singles hitter (and cannot drive in a run when desperately needed) with a holey glove (I mean two 3 error games this season), and someone who apparently refuses to take care of his lower body (silly soft tissue injuries like hamstring and groin which should never happen for players that rely on their legs). The only rube that would want him has him already in Hahn… He reminds me of Jose Valentin, but at least least Jose was a switch hitter, and usually hit around 20 homers a season. As usual I hope he proves me wrong, but last season, when he needed to take that next step to being a great player, he disappeared.
He’s a lead-off man. His job is to get on base and score runs. It’s up to the guys behind him to drive him in with HRs or however they can.
Lead off hitter or not, you have to drive runs home when the opportunity is there, and I saw many a time where Anderson struck out, popped out. and could not drive the runner home. If you are making 12 mil a season you have to drive in runs as well.
Yeah he’s had some errors but he’s still a good SS. I’ve watched him make more good plays than bad.
Ahhh man, I disagree big time. TA freaking rakes, man. I do think he’s in the midst of a decline defensively, but dude is a pure hitter.
nrd, you’re clueless. TA is a stud. The team wins when he’s in the lineup. Watch more ball, talk less.
Who is clueless? Don’t assume and don’t drink the kool-aid, I have watched plenty of White Sox games over the past 30+ years, including the train wreck of last season (as painful as it was to watch). My assessment of him is not out of thin air (though your platitudes sound like a typical fanboy using their heart instead of their head). I suggest you watch more instead of keying in only one stat of wins when he gets a hit. That’s just a larger indictment of how bad the team is at hitting, not how good he is. Sure he gets hits , but a lot of times when they rarely matter. I was watching him fail to drive runners home all season and in HUGE situations where a hit wins a game. Well almost all season when he was not hurt with injuries he should not have been getting in the first place. Here come the ‘ifs’ again.. ‘If’ he keeps himself in shape, ‘if’ he actually learns how to hit with runners on (lead off hitter or not), and ‘if’ he can tighten up on the silly errors, then he is the player everyone thinks he, but he looks more like he is relying on hype more than skill (especially last season).
He bats at the type of the lineup because he’s a contact hitter, rarely strikes out, and possesses good speed and power. He’s the type of player teams salivate over because he’s a perfect leadoff/table setter. The only legitimate beef with him is his defense is just average. He’s better suited at 2B, which is why the Sox should have signed a FA SS this year.
I think you’re letting your personal issues with him cloud your judgment. TA is a young, fiery guy who catches hell from people because of it. He definitely needs to learn to control his temper. However, judging him harshly because of the dustup with Donaldson (a dirtball, and the most hated player in the league according to the players) is nonsensical. Grown men know what to say, and what NOT to say to other grown men unless they’re looking for a fight. Donaldson crossed the line, as he is apt to do.
Personal issues? Whatever that is supposed to imply. I think some die hard fans like to deflect to ‘it must be “personal” issues’ with a player just because, from a critic’s viewpoint the player is under performing. I have no personal issues with TA at all . I was one of his biggest advocates where people were saying dump him three years ago. The problem is that was three years ago. He should have take the next step this past season, but did not, for whatever reason he regressed and badly. Sure, he does not strike out, he just grounds out, flies out and pops out and typically when the Sox need a run (at least last season)… He has injuries that he should not have (to be fair many people on this roster do), and he had little power (and yeah I get that he was spraying the ball around, but even when he looked like he was swinging for the fences he was just making long outs, or popping up (which is weird as TA does have opposite field power). For 12 mil a season you are not paying that for a guy hitting a lot of singles and has a holey glove at SS. I think some let their hearts do the talking instead of using logic when looking at look at TA. Now, could it have been because LaRussa was in the dugout? Sure, but if that’s the case then it speaks volumes if you let a manager get in your head enough to under perform. I can care less about the bat flips or their ‘impact’ same with his reaction to Donaldson’s crap. I have no personal issues with Anderson at all, I strictly look at the product on the field and how he is helping the team, which is not as much as I think people would like to think (especially, again, last season)
So what’s next – a list of every player not being traded this offseason? There were never any reports of the Sox trading TA. So this makes no sense.
There is a report Timmy is not happy he wants to be traded, we can only hope the Sox do. KW the problem.
Meanwhile, good guys, like Abreu & Pollock, will continue to seek greener pastures.
Pollock?
Very good player on a good K. There was some smoke last season about some personal issues that might have spilled over into public view.
Also, if they struggle again, a new FO needs to maximize return for Cease next offseason.
A terrible defensive SS – terrible baseball IQ. Statistics don’t remotely reflect what he costs the team during a game.
The quintessential Kenny Williams – Rick Hahn player.
Probably the most overrated player in baseball.. him and Buxton. He’s a good shortstop. Nothing else. Is he Correa? No is he Turner? No he’s no Xander. Sorry. They might get a bag of balls and a couple of hats for him. Stay in Chicago and keep losing
If Rick Hahn is not listening to offers for everyone outside of Robert and Cease at this point, he is not doing his job. There are teams looking for SP and SS right now. One team the Sox match up well with trade wise, are the Cardinals. They need SP, SS and would also be interested in the closer role.
Gio, Hendriks and TA7 to the Cardinals
Edman and Donovan up front, and then a combination of a Nootbar, Carlson or best case scenario Jordan Walker and SP prospect like Hence or Liberatore.
As far as the Whitesox off-season is concerned, if this is all we get, they failed miserably. Mike Clevinger was not the difference between where they ended in 2022 and a championship.
What a laughable proposal, can’t turn on force trades IRL.
You can laugh all you want, but they match up very well in the trade needs. The Cards need a #2-#3 SP as well as a SS if they are not moving Edman to replace deJong. That gives the Cards Anderson and Giolito. Now throw in a Hendriks, who would immediately move into the Closer role and is better than what the Cards have now.
So an Edman, Gorman/Donovan, Walker and Liberatore would be a great matchup.
LOVE THE WAY YOU THINK. IMAGINE WHAT THE DODGERS WOULD GIVE FOR ROBERT!
What a Cardinal fan comment.
I’m a Sox fan, lifelong, 57 years. I know the Sox need to make moves, and need a 2nd baseman (Edman) as well as an OF. More than they need to pay Giolito and Hendriks. They have options at both positions.
The Cardinals don’t want to pay a rental like Gio or two guys making eight figures for the next two years for all the cost controlled players you covet from them. Do us a favor and go to BTV to get a sense of values and post some trades there to see what users think about them. You will learn something.
All of his kids from all of his baby mama’s will be happy to hear he is staying in Chi-town.
Tyler Naquin and Oscar Colas in right. Was surprised Mendick was canned. Probably try to trade for switch hitting second baseman. Grandal in last season of terrible contract. Even if win division out in first round. SOS.
$180 million simply is not a high enough payroll number for this team to win anything. There are far too many holes on this roster. If anything, this team’s payroll needed to go UP by about $40 or $50 million, not DOWN by $10 or $15 million.
The owner saw the competitive window and slammed it shut.
AL Central disease…you only have to spend enough to win your division that is made up of low payroll teams.
TA fans don’t get it. What is there to like when you pay 12 mil for a poor fielding SS who only suits up for 80 games. That will never be all star caliber. Definitely KW hyped protection.
Yeah… Hey I loved TA in his early years, but he has lost something, or at least never found the next step. I have watched this team, and sports, long enough to know you do not bet with your heart, you bet with your head, and after a few seasons now, TA is just not looking like a guy who is going to be that all encompassing perennial All Star that people wish for him to be.. He is another ‘hope’ or ‘what if’ on this club filled with hopes and what ifs. At this point the the White Sox look like the midwest’s Oakland As but with a much worse scouting dept.
Let’s see 24 and 25 , 80 games each year is 160 games total for what’s left on his contract 26 mil. Protected by KW, you see change the pay scale by not playing gives you more pay per game over two remaining years. Saving your legs for the new contract.
Trade him let someone else be conned.