Chicago White Sox Will Keep Tim Anderson, But Extension Appears Unlikely

There is no drama with the White Sox exercising Tim Anderson’s contract option. But it is time to start speculating about the shortstop’s future as he heads into his age-30 season.

Anderson is still playing under the terms of the deal he signed on the eve of the 2017 season, when he had played only 99 major-league games. It guaranteed him $25 million over six seasons with two club options. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports the White Sox will exercise his option.

Anderson’s 2023 option will pay him $12.5 million. The ’24 option is for $14 million, and both carry only a $1 million buyout.

He is at a point where the discussion should be moving to a contract extension that secures his service but appeared in decline last season, making a new deal on the South Side something of a wait-and-see proposition.

Anderson has been a huge bargain for Jerry Reinsdorf’s ownership group, generating 18.2 WAR for less than $28 million since the White Sox selected him out of a Mississippi junior college. He won the Silver Slugger in 2020 and has been an All-Star the last two seasons.

But the recent metrics aren’t kind to him. HIs fWAR dropped from 4.7 in 2021 to 2.0 last season, reflecting his least productive season since 2017, his first full season.

Anderson hit .300 for the fourth year in a row but these were largely empty hitting calories as he hit only six home runs and generated a .734 OPS. His fielding was wildly inconsistent. Fangraphs graded him at -7 Defense Runs Saved, which ranked 32nd among 35 players with at least 500 innings at shortstops.

Health has been a problem for Anderson, who played only 79 games last season due to a torn ligament in a finger — suffered on a check swing — and groin strain. He also was suspended twice, for bumping an umpire and making an obscene gesture to fans. He hasn’t played more than 123 games since 2018, missing almost one third of the White Sox’s games the last four seasons.

It probably doesn’t help Anderson’s value that he was outplayed by emergency replacement Elvis Andrus down the stretch. Andrus, who was signed after being released by Oakland, delivered a .773 OPS in 43 games, generating 2.0 fWAR. He is a free agent but has said he’d like to return to Chicago, and is willing to move to second base and play alongside Anderson.

The White Sox’s top prospect is shortstop Colson Montgomery but he’s at least two years away from the majors. The easiest path for the White Sox is to take it a year at a time with Anderson. A bounce-back season in 2023 would help his case for an extension.

With Anderson’s $12.5 million salary guaranteed, the Sox’s running payroll total is up to about $172.7 million, per Cots Contracts. That includes AJ Pollock’s $10 million player option but only the buyout on second baseman Josh Harrison’s option.

Harrison is a tougher call than you might think. His 2023 option is at $5.5 million and he played fairly well last season, generating an overall 1.4 fWAR and +3 DRS when he played second base, his natural position. He would likely be a cheaper option than Andrus if the White Sox want to fill their second base opening with a known quantity.