Tim Anderson Inks One-Year, $5M Deal With Miami Marlins
Looking for a comeback season in 2024, the 2019 AL hitting champion
In a move that was confirmed by sources on Thursday, the Miami Marlins added shortstop Tim Anderson as a late free agent. The two sides had interest in Anderson since last season, when they made a trade deadline inquiry about him. The deal is valued at $5 million and includes a $500,000 trade escalator.
After playing for the Chicago White Sox for his first eight Major League Baseball seasons, Tim Anderson is hoping for a bounce-back season in 2024 to reset his value. The two-time All-Star is coming off of his worst season to date, slashing .245/.286/.296 with one home run and an MLB-worst .582 OPS before the White Sox declined his option in November.
In addition, he has had multiple injuries over the past two seasons, including to his left knee, right wrist, and right shoulder.
The Marlins squad, searching for offensive impact and upside, should take the risk with this deal despite Anderson’s ’23 to forget. After hitting over .300 in four straight seasons—three of which had an OPS above .800—and only 30 years old, Anderson had a strong resume before the previous season. He won a Silver Slugger Award and the 2019 AL hitting title during that span, and he was selected for two All-Star teams.
After only two winning seasons in his Chicago career, Anderson may need a change of scenery to rekindle his career, and Miami might offer him a chance to contend for a postseason berth.
Last season, the Marlins made it to the postseason for the fourth time in their history before losing to the Phillies in the wild-card round. Since Miguel Rojas left, they’ve struggled at shortstop, so Anderson provides depth at that position.
Josh Bell, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Luís Arraez, the 2023 NL hitting champion, are among the players Anderson joins in Miami. Additionally, he will be reunited with Jake Burger, who had an.860 OPS in 53 games with the Marlins the previous season, and Avisaíl García, his former White Sox colleagues.
As full-squad exercises got underway this week, Anderson was one of the top free agents still searching for a team. In sports ranking of the top 25 free agents this winter, he was ranked No. 13. Reliable sources inform that he was also a finalist to sign with the Giants and Angels.
