The White Sox will decline their $14MM club option on shortstop Tim Anderson, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers (X link). Anderson will instead receive a $1MM buyout, and become a free agent for the first time in his professional career.
The decision marks the end of an era on the South Side, as Anderson had been part of the organization since the White Sox made him the 17th overall pick of the 2013 draft. Emerging as a regular through the club’s rebuilding years, Anderson made two All-Star Games, won a Silver Slugger Award (in 2020), and won the 2019 AL batting title during his eight seasons in a Sox uniform.
The White Sox recognized this potential early, and locked Anderson up on a six-year, $25MM extension prior to the 2017 season that contained club options for both 2023 and 2024. Heading into the 2023 season, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that Anderson’s first option would be picked up, yet this parting of the ways underscores the disappointing nature of the shortstop’s year.
Anderson hit only .245/.286/.296 over 524 plate appearances, and his 60 wRC+ was the lowest of any qualified hitter in baseball. Anderson missed about three weeks due to a left knee sprain early in the season, and said last month that he never quite felt right physically for the rest of the year, undoubtedly contributing to this major dropoff at the plate. With his defensive metrics also taking a tumble, Anderson was a sub-replacement level player, with -0.5 fWAR in 2023 after posting 16.1 fWAR over the previous five seasons.
Despite this poor performance, the Marlins and some unknown other teams still had some interest in Anderson heading into the trade deadline, even if a deal was never completed. It is fair to guess that Anderson would’ve been among the other White Sox veterans shipped at the deadline if he’d been playing at any sort of higher level, as it could be that the Sox couldn’t find an appropriate asking price and didn’t want to just give Anderson away.
Yet now, Anderson will hit the market with no strings attached, as the White Sox certainly aren’t going to issue a $20.325MM qualifying offer for a player they could’ve retained for an extra $13MM. Though the Sox lost 101 games last season, owner Jerry Reinsdorf and new GM Chris Getz indicated that the Sox plan to compete rather than rebuild, and it could be argued that parting with Anderson is a step in that direction if the White Sox don’t think a rebound is possible. It’s probably fair to guess that Chicago gauged the trade market again before making today’s decision, but even if clubs do see Anderson as a bounce-back candidate, the $13MM price point also wasn’t to their liking.
Anderson just turned 30 last June, so if he stays healthy, it wouldn’t be surprising if he indeed gets back to his old form in 2024. This makes him an interesting option within a pretty thin middle infield market, especially since Anderson has indicated he is open to playing second base. A position change could further boost Anderson’s value, as while his glovework at shortstop has been inconsistent, he might become a plus as a second baseman.
Colson Montgomery is the shortstop of the future in Chicago, yet since the top prospect has yet to play any Triple-A ball, it would be a very aggressive move for the White Sox to pencil him into their Opening Day plans. We can’t rule out the scenario since we don’t yet know how Getz might operate as a GM, but the likelier option is for Montgomery to make his MLB debut at some point closer to midway through the 2024 season, at the earliest.
The White Sox already needed middle infield help due to their lack of depth at second base, and now a new shortstop can also be added to Getz’s offseason checklist. Romy Gonzalez, Lenyn Sosa, and Zach Remillard could perhaps combine to handle one position until Montgomery is called up, yet some kind of veteran upgrade is absolutely needed for second base or shortstop, particularly if Chicago has any designs on competing. In theory, the Sox could aim to acquire a player using the $13MM they probably had earmarked for Anderson, on a shorter-term deal.
Seems like a good bounce back candidate for a number of teams.
As a Tigers fan, I can tell you I hated seeing him at the plate. Its too bad that we are locked in to Javy Baez because I’d love to see him play in Detroit on a bargain contract.
Anderson could play 2B… Baez at SS. Anderson killed the Tigers.
.347/ .386/ .505 lifetime splits. Tigers should give it a shot. They have a hole at 2B until Keith or Jung are ready.
Wow double cancers. What did the tigers do to you wish that on them
I think the takes on Anderson have gone from accurate to overblown.
Does he have some obvious issues? Yes.
Is he the worst human being in baseball? No, as far as the evidence shows.
If anything, he had my support in the supposed “slapping incident” involving Grandal.
I wouldn’t want to be one of your co-workers.
My mistake. I thought Tim did the slapping
Mike Lansing had ridiculous numbers against the Rockies too, then they traded for him and those numbers went away
He was hilarious in that MLB commercial with Blake Snell describing the new shift restrictions. Very good comedic delivery.
Anderson picked a fight with a player who is generally thought of as a good guy in Ramirez, then pushed an ump out of the way (quite frankly surprised that he did not get a massive suspension for that) then gets haymaker-ed to the ground, Then tries to get back onto the field after leaving it and the mess he caused, and almost got teammates hurt in the process. THEN went out Twitter to post nonsensical rants before finally issue some sort of apology two weeks later.. and that’s just ONE instance of what is wrong with the guy.. I mean we have no time get through all the litany of injuries, errors in both base running and the field, as well as the lack of any power…. Overblown? No. regarding Anderson as a human being, I just hope get gets some psychiatric help before he goes completely off the rails.
Yeah the whole ‘well he did good against our team so he must be good’ is mostly just silly stuff from hopeful fans. Im guessing its more of ‘while our pitching staff is perennially horrible, this guy is just a good hitter in our stadium’. I’m sure occasionally one guy proves them right, but typically it does not end that way.
Nope. Grandal requested to skip the final game before the all-star break. Anderson scoffed at this and said to just let him go because he didn’t want people in the clubhouse who didn’t want to be there. That’s when Grandal allegedly confronted and slapped Anderson.
Wimpy move by Grandal to ask to skip out, then confront and slap a man who was sitting in an ice bath to avoid retaliation.
1 honerun in 500 atbats… no thank you
Ibanez and McKinstry platoon was more productive than TA, and Keith is ready to take the reins at 3B.
We’ve all been saying let Grandal go for the last four years.
The lead-off man’s job is to get on base and score runs, driven in by the 3,4,5 hitters. In that regard, TA almost always did his job.
I agree whole heartedly. I don’t want him back even if wins comeback player of the year in 2024. There has been too many incidents involving TA over the years. I think he will only serve as a bad role model to the younger players on this team.
Good riddance to Yaz. His career on the South Side lasted two seasons too long.
@Avenger65: True, but it does not mean that the lead off hitter is exempt from driving in runs (especially in key situations) when it matters, which Anderson has not done in the past couple of years. Guys who get paid come through for the situation.
The leadoff hitter leads off an inning once, maybe twice per game, after that they are a run producer like everyone else. Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines, Devon White, Brady Anderson, Tony Phillips even Acuna today were/are all leadoff hitters with pop and the ability to drive in runs. Anderson worked so hard on his bat flips and celebrations he lost the ability to actually hit the ball
I agree, but you have to admit he is a master of the bat flip. I think that’s what got him in an altercation with Salvador Perez. He’s a drama queen for sure. He probably lies in bed wondering what stunt he can pull in order to get some attention.
His next stunt will be crying how infair and racist MLB is when no one offers him a 10 year $300million dollar contract and has to secure a pillow contract somewhere
Except Cleveland
He can’t get much worse. I think he can bounce back to only be bad instead of the worst batting starter in baseball. Maybe an 80 OPS+ instead of a 60.
Declining his option was a no-brainer for the White Sox.
It was always a no-brainer. It wouldn’t have mattered if TA won the triple crown and earned a platinum glove. There was no way Reinsdorf was going to pay ANYONE that kind of money. Something more in the $1-3m range for that jerk. Sox fans knew that since last off-season when they loaded up on dfa’s. Using three of those – Remillard, Sosa, Gonzalez – to fill in in the MI is just the kind of thinking that will have the Sox supplanting the A’s as the worst team in bb. TA will rebound once he gets away from the Sox’ depressing culture and plays with a real team filled with real major leaguers. Montgomery might be a very good player, but his talent will never be seen in Chicago. Too many player’s careers have nose-dived once they put on a WS uniform. I just want to know, why does Reinsdorf hate his team so much?
He doesn’t hate the White Sox, he just loves money more. This is the same guy who not only doubled down on the loathing of him to say he is not selling the team, but then complained about his fairly new stadium needing to be replaced.
Hit the road Jack(ie)and don’t you come back no more, no more, no more, no more.
Hit the road Jack(ie) and don’t you come back no more. Ahahaha!
Yeah, I honestly believe this season will go down as a huge aberration in the career of Tim Anderson.
Whoever takes the chance will be getting a very fun and exciting player *if he’s right*.
Worst hitter in 2023?
From Pete Alonzo and Tim Anderson to Mike Trout and Trea Turner, it’s amazing how many USA WBC teammates had subpar MLB seasons. If you look at the list, it’s astonishing.
Mike trout and trea turner both had 3 plus war seasons… less than their usual doesnt mean subpar. Mike trout was 27 percent better than league average at the plate. Thats not close to how bad anderson was.
Say it ain’t so, Jackie!
I know he was terrible in ‘23, but $14 million is not much for a player who was a superstar not too long ago.
14 M is about 14 million too many for an injury prone scrub, who kills team chemistry and morale. It’s simple addition by subtraction.
Sorry, but it was LaRussa who killed the team chemistry. None of the players looked happy during his reign of demoralization. TA went through the highs, when Renteria turned a 5-year rebuild into a rare PO appearance in 3, and the lows, when Reinsdorf brought in LaRussa who blew the whole thing up and sent the team back to ground zero.
Yeah the ‘chairman’ has no one to blame but himself with that LaRussa debacle. However, in fairness, for what they expected Anderson to be (i.e. a leader) one does not just go sulk at the last manager leaving, you stand up and produce for whoever. Were their hard feelings? Im guessing absolutely, but again for someone who supposedly wanted to be a leader, he has to show up regardless of the manager.
call 1888 VOTTO20
Team killer Tim Anderson, is like a fine scotch; he goes down very easy.
Goes down easy… Niiice!
Yup same situation as bellinger last year
Anderson will similarily make more money in free agency on a 1 + 1 show me contact
White sox management looking suspect here
Bellinger had an 80 OPS+ and 1.2 WAR in 2022, and he didn’t make a nuisance of himself. Meaning he was a bad hitter but played very good defense. Lower than league average, but above replacement level overall.
Anderson had a 60 OPS+ and a -2.0 WAR this season while going out of his way to be an arse to his own teammates and players on other teams. Meaning he was the worst hitter in the game and played bad defense. FAR below replacement level overall.
I think Anderson might be able to bounce back to where Bellinger was in 2022 if he pulls his head out. I doubt it will happen because I doubt he has the mental capacity to do so. He will blame others for his downtrend and likely be out of baseball in a year or two.
They know no other look.
I’ll tell ya, I am not looking forward to seeing the awful, miserable team we run out there in 2024. Most Sox fans will tell you how much worse can it get? Well, when you remove the catalyst that made our hitting attack successful in 2019-2021 and don’t replace him with anything — my friends, I think it still has room to get a lot worse.
The promise this team held back in 2020,it’s like it just disappeared overnight and never came back. We might give the A’s a run for worst team in the Majors next season.
He was no Acuña or Ohtani, but he’s stretch from 19’-21’ was impressive and put him in the realm of superstardom IMO
I was hoping for a sign and trade. But I guess they’d never get $14 mil in value for him.
I don’t think that exists in mlb
It’ll be interesting to see who they get to play short. There’s nobody better than Anderson in the free agent market.
T.A arguably was the worst shortstop in all of MLB last year. I’m pretty sure even a warm body easily replaces his “production”.
Why was he selected for the USA WBC team if he is so terrible?
> I’m pretty sure even a warm body
> easily replaces his “production”.
I think a corpse
no, wait
A scarecrow at secondbase would be better than little Timmy Anderson
Well, we know that it will be a better hitter since he was the worst player with a qualifying number of at bats.
He’s a terrible defender. I think will bring back Elvis or IKF, or maybe trade for Nicky López. They love the KC connection lol
Lopez is a FA
Lopez is not a FA. Braves still control him through arbitration. He’s a perfect utility guy for them and it would be stupid for them to let him go.
He’s not a reliable SS, never got the fundamentals down. If he agrees to play 2B (as he did in the WBC) he might have a strong market & hope his power re-emerges. But a .582 OPS, 1 HR in 493 ab’s & -2.0 WAR is a lot to recover from.
The Sox will wait and see which SS is dfa’d next.
Easiest decision in the history of decisions.
Yeah, even easier than choosing the Capital One card!
Only on something like a 1 year/$7M MAX deal with no options for 2025.
? He was good for most of it. And it was pretty cheap
yeah it did. the sox paid him 37 million dollars and he gave them a batting title, 2 all-star appearances, and a silver slugger.
the first 6 years of his career is somewhere in between the level of dansby swanson and xander bogaerts, both of whom made 40+ mil over their first 6 years. so they saved a little.
whether you like him or not, had TA gone into free agency last year, he would have gotten a contract at least on par with javier baez, like swanson, bogaerts, correa, and trea turner did.
The extension worked out in that they probably paid TA the same amount of money he would have made in arbitration. They got to plan for that money, and bet in favor if TA becoming one of the top SSs in the game. He didn’t. They merely paid him what he was worth.
Also, hate him if you want but Sox fans don’t get many big moments to celebrate. His field of dreams walk off was just awesome.
No, those accolades are for himself, not the team. In the past two years especially, he gave the team a guy who got hurt an awful lot. A guy who was an easy out with runners on, a guy who picked fights but could not finish them, a guy who forgot how to hit anything other than singles. Yeah they got a lot out of him…
Over his 7 year extension Anderson has put up a 99 OPS+ and 98 wRC+ and 13.8 WAR. He has been a league average player overall. He gave the White Sox surplus value over the contract, but between his league worst play last season and the problem he has become in the clubhouse and in his relations with players on other teams he is no longer worth the money. Declining the option was a no brainer.
Here’s comes another rebuild. At least his replacement is already in the organization.
1 HR in 524AB’s..WOW. Was he injured?
He had a sore jaw for awhile there…
*Claps, profusely*
Yes, he suffered from a bruised ego most of the year.
Went to some games – he was just going thru the motions. If got lucky was able to poke one thru a hole in the infield. If I had to guess would say left shoulder. No way anyone should sign him to anything more than a minor league prove up contract. PUP list member.
Yes, he was hurt.
Two wins below replacement, in his “prime” when most players thrive. Jackie cost himself millions, picking fights and losing them typically doesn’t endear one to his teammates.
Knocked down again.
Thought they might bring him back to see if he could regain the old form for a deadline trade
I mean, this was the right move. Probably a good change of scenery candidate on a bounceback deal.
Personal Issues. On field issues. Playing issues. Did seem to hit better way later in the season. But change of scenery candidate for sure. But I wouldn’t pay much. All of these things probably would pop up again. And if on a smaller contract, can cut if they arise. I’d give a shorter chance here. With incentives.
Molar issues too
Bipolar issues too
Bimolar issues three
He better bounce back or people are gonna assume Josey knocked every ounce of skill outta his body.
Is a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, in his future?! Maybe Jackie could shadow an up and coming player, like a Volpe, since Volpe was three or four times more valuable than Jackie was this season.
Jackie was worst in the league at 2.0 BELOW?! Wowza! I don’t root against many guys, but Anderson is an easy one. Who needs a noodle armed shortstop, with zero power, little speed and a poor character?! Anyone?!!?
No surprise. The question is how little will he get now after his act got old in his previous stop?
Significant. It could forecast the White Sox direction this offseason in regards to reloading, retooling or rebuilding. It could also just reflect TA’s clubhouse presence which was a huge problem last season.
Anderson might be one of those guys signed by a team that doesn’t expect to be competitive in hope he plays well enough to flip for prospects next summer.
So he is going to the A’s?
If they want Miguel Rojas for a year just ask for him
Anderson’s off the field issues are the sole reason behind the White Sox parting ways with him. Anderson’s off the field issues effected him on the field in 2023. It’s time to see if Yolbert Sanchez can play with friend and former teammate Luis Robert.
I believe it’s the clubhouse presence that’s behind this move, too. If he was a good clubhouse guy, hard to imagine the Sox not taking a chance on a bounce back year from him. Fourteen million wouldn’t have been an exorbitant amount of money for 1 more year.
In sports, you can be a bad guy a lot of times if you have talent. You can be average if you’re good for chemistry. What you can’t be is a bad guy that doesn’t produce on a sizeable salary.
This is a really bad move.
Was Anderson bad in ‘23? Sure. But it was an injury-plagued season—and pretty much the only bad season of his career. (It took him a few years to become a .300 hitter, but he did other things well in the meantime.)
For $14 million, it would’ve been well worth hoping for Anderson to bounce back (and it should be expected) in his walk year, and at least flip him midseason for some prospects. But hey, there’s a reason why the White Sox can’t build a winner.
If TA hadn’t improved at the bat, he wouldn’t have been around. What are these other things he did well in the meantime? As to flipping him at the deadline, that could only happen if he improves, and is a risk the team (who knows him best) did not want to take. His on field antics, and his off field immaturity are not good for the team. He gone.
Wow, I’m a bit shocked as a Sox fan, but also am not a TA fan anymore. I hope this is part of a larger strategy that improves the middle infield. He was rough to watch over the past couple years, so I’m happy to see what’s next.
I agree, if they combined Remillard, Sosa, and Gonzalez into one player, that player could handle one position. Let’s call him LeRoza Remgonso!
This is surprising to say the least. At worst they should of kept him and traded him at the deadline if he returned to form. Another stupid move by the Black Sox. Mystifying.
No, at worst would be having to release him and pay him in full because he didn’t return to form, and no team was willing to give up a stick of gum for him.
Surprising only to the uninformed or clueless.
Yeah, they essentially chose Pedro Grifol over him. At this point, the Sox are lucky that the Majors don’t have a similar thing as soccer because the whole team would be demoted.
Tough times and no end in sight as White Sox fan.
Tim has a lot of talent however he’s a punk and a locker room problem. It’s additional by subtraction for the White Sox.
I think this guy lost a bit of focus with his extracurricular activities. I think baseball took a backseat for him. Maybe a new team will get his mojo back.
What are his extracurricular activities
Who will take the flyer? I’m sure there will be a couple of teams that may offer him a starting position. Will he accept a smaller contract?
2/3rds of the contending teams are most likely already circling with 1 + an option around 14 – 17 per
Hey TA’s burner!
You were a -2.0 WAR player. That’s bad. Real bad. If I were you then I would take the first ST invite you get.
All the best!
> 2/3rds of the contending teams are
> most likely already circling with 1 + an
> option around 14 – 17 per
14-17 pesos per /yr
Diablos Rojos del Mexico very interest’d.
I seriously doubt that. He is no Cody Bellinger. Over Timmies last two seasons, 202 games he’s had a lackluster 79 OPS+, .643 OPS.
He had a glorious three seasons of 295 games of 125 OPS+ and a strong .844 OPS sandwiched between a dreadful start of 398 games in his first three campaigns a .697 OPS, and an 88 OPS+.
So 600 total games of an 80 something OPS+ and roughly .660 OPS, and 295 games of great play in between. I’ll guess an 8-10M guarantee by say, a West Coast team to play second, he seems destined for keystone since his D has fallen off hard.
Again, he’s no Cody Bellinger. Unless a wise hitting guru sees something specific he’s doing differently, that no one else can, seems he’s just lost a step or three.
He’s not going to be offered a bigger one!
Zaidi doesn’t need to consider signing Anderson. He’s not a good fit for the Giants
Dodgers can fix what ails him and put him at 2nd. Keep Mookie in the Outfield
I think its almost a garentee that he is going to sign a 1 year prove it deal with the Dodgers. It just makes way too much sense since they desperately need a shortstop. I wouldn’t mind Anderson as the primary DH for the Mets on a 1 year deal, can use him at second base too. Yankees also seem like a good fit for him, they like picking up guys with issues who underperformed previously
Does the garantee come in a wife beater?
@Hemlock Jackie would never do that!
Pretty sure Lux is the Dodger SS
He’s a locker room cancer.
Clubhouse cancers that don’t hit .320 with 30-40 Home Runs and 120+ Runs Batted In don’t tend to get long term big money deals. Buyer beware on anything over one year for whoever signs him
Let the Royals have him.
Team cancer don’t need the drama
I hope the Tigers sign him. He offered to play second base. So, it makes sense.
Strange how since the MLB changed the policy regarding off field issues, so many players and teams have been affected. Coincides with the acceptance of betting. What a way to influence the outcome of a season.
People are nasty. So, it makes sense.
Down goes Anderson!
Nice to see the “TA’s not a bad guy, he’s just misunderstood” apologists trickling to just a handful. The argument is moot. Anderson is gone.
What a stupid move. Let the one guy who has a chance to bounce back and get a prospect in return walk means Getz is tearing it down and building from scratch. Here comes another 10 years of losing baseball.
No you’re the idiot. Stick to fantasy baseball.
Have you really looked at the team? The minors are bare, and they won’t spend money. What other choice is there?
Farhan on line #1
Anderson was a guy with a lot of promise, I was one of his ardent supporters, hoping the glove would tighten up, but it never did, and then his hitting got horrible, mainly when the club needed him (ie runners on base). Then there is all of this talk about how LaRussa had to call him and have some sort of introduction I guess to smooth over some hard feelings (though to be fair I think that happened a lot when they stabbed Renteria in the back). There there we the constant injuries, this whole thing about messing around with an influencer and getting her pregnant (which one hopes that ‘injuries’ were not a cover for personal issues), finally the ‘cherry on top’, the whole incident with Ramirez… He can go. I hope he finds peace in his life as its apparent he does not have that, maybe he can be a good player again, but I have a feeling the Sox clubhouse will improve with his antics gone.
If tim won that fight, whitesox pick that option up
Talk about a rough year. Hopefully he bounces back.
Seems like a prime candidate for a 1 year/$4M bounceback candidate for a team hoping to flip him at the deadline.
Thought for sure the Six would pick up his option. Has the potential to be Comeback Player of the Year in ’24. Could be that he really was bad company in the locker room, or maybe he asked that the release him so he can get that therapeutic change of scenery. It was time that the player and team moved in separate directions. I like this move, but to Getz immediately turn it into a negative by trying to rush Monty to the majors? Whomever TA signs with, let’s hope that when he and his new team come to play at whatever corporate handle the Sox are calling their park these days, the org will have a dignified ceremony where the retire TA’s #7.
He wasn’t good enough to have his number retired.
Jackie!!!!! Oh, I love Jackie Anderson posts, oh im sorry, Tim?!? I just get confused because you all know, he’s like the modern day Jackie Robinson. Please don’t block me lol. I very rarely post, but I can’t stand Anderson. I’ll take the really Jackie over him any day.
Good for the white Sox!!!
TA7, goodbye and thanks for all the fish.
For all those who are not true SSiders or Sox fans who think this was a bad move, you’re shambolic idiocy is entertaining and amusing.
“…the White Sox certainly aren’t going to issue a $20.325MM qualifying offer for a player they could’ve retained for an extra $13MM.”
A reasonable conclusion, Mark, but these ARE the White Sox. No bad moves are really ever off the table lol
White Sox had no choice here. I’ll always see Anderson as a south side legend no matter who he plays for next.
Finally the Sox are making some sensible moves.
I shouldn’t be surprised but I am. It wasn’t too long ago that this wasn’t even a question of whether or not they’d pick up his $14M option; it was an absolute no-brainer ‘duh.’. But after the year the Sox had — which Tim Anderson’s struggles this year made all the worse — I don’t think they really had any choice, especially after Getz announced that Pedro Grifol would return as the manager in 2024. Considering that the management and front office had already alluded to Anderson being one of “problems in the clubhouse,” the writing was on the wall with this one.
I’ve seen some Sox beat-writers suggest we could bring TA back on a lesser deal but I don’t think that happens. It really seems like both sides are fed up with each other and I’m not sure it can be mended, at this point. I will say that I’m going to miss Anderson. He undoubtedly goes down as one of my favorite White Sox players of all-time. It’s a shame that this is how it’s likely going to end.
I really do hope he finds his swing again and has a ton of success wherever he ends up.
He should do a Ballinger 1 year deal.
Anderson getting caught on video saying “I hate this place” was the final straw for him.
I can see a rebound year for him if he’s healthy, but the whole issue of his glass jaw is troubling..
Bye Jackie
Yeah I forgot he’s Jackie and not Onassis right
You know this been happening for a reason. He’s been going through it for a while.
Pencil Merrifield in to fill Anderson’s spot in the batting order and some last chance vet like DeJong or Andrus to shore up what passes for defense for the Sox.