Major League Trade Candidate: Chicago White Sox’ Tim Anderson

Is shortstop Tim Anderson worth $14 million to the Chicago White Sox next season?

That’s a decision White Sox ownership and the front office will be faced with moving forward.

Unless they offer him a contract extension, or pick up Anderson’s $14 million club option, Anderson can be a free agent following this season.

The right-handed hitting Anderson will turn 30 June 23.

Anderson has been a consequential team leader for the White Sox since he made his major league debut for Chicago at the age of 22 on June 10, 2016.

Recent Shortstop Contracts:

It is important to put Anderson’s future in context with recent major league shortstop contracts.

Here are the 2024 salaries for a few high profile MLB shortstops:

Corey Seager-Age 29=$35 million

Francisco Lindor-Age 29=$34.1 million

Carlos Correa-Age 28=$33.3 million

Trea Turner-Age 29=$27.2 million

Dansby Swanson-Age 29=$26 million

Each of those players have contracts extended beyond next year.

In contrast, $14 million for Anderson next year would be a bargain.

However, will the team offer him a contract beyond 2024? If so, at what price?

Trading Tim Anderson:

It remains to be seen if the White Sox have a plan to churn their roster and make sweeping changes that could begin in 2024.

The White Sox are in the midst of a disappointing season. Their record is 26-35.

Yasmani Grandal, Elvis Andrus, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, and Kenyan Middleton can become free agents.

Liam Hendriks ($15 million) Lance Lynn ($18 million) Joe Kelly ($9.5 million) and Anderson ($14 million) all have team options for 2024.

Each may be attractive trade candidates. What team wouldn’t want Liam Hendriks in their bullpen?

Maybe Chicago will try to trade Giolito, Lynn, and Lopez, with young players coming back in return.

If they choose to let Anderson test free agency, he is a White Sox player that can fetch a nice return at the August 1 trade deadline.

White Sox fans have lived with disappointment and underachievement from their team for several seasons.

Trading veteran players, including Anderson, may be discussed on Chicago’s South Side.

About Tim Anderson:

Tim Anderson was a 1st round selection of the White Sox in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.

Selected out of East Central Community College in Decatur, Mississippi, Anderson was the 18th player chosen in the draft. He received a signing bonus of $2.164 million.

When he was drafted, Anderson was best known for his excellent overall athletic ability. Fast and agile, Anderson flashed enough strength and power to hit the gaps with quick hands and the ability to find the barrel.

His speed allowed Anderson to take an extra base or to steal bases.

Prior to being drafted, scouts were divided on the best defensive position for Anderson. Some felt he would be fine at shortstop, others felt he would be more successful as a second baseman.

Scouts pointed to Anderson’s cumbersome footwork and inconsistent throws from the hole at shortstop as issues for Anderson’s future.

To this scout, at this point in his career, Anderson may be better playing second base. Or, given his outstanding athletic ability, he could be a good center fielder. He would have to learn to make the proper reads, get the right jumps, and track the ball off the bat while taking correct routes.

Anderson played second base on the United States World Baseball Classic team this past fall. Trea Turner played shortstop.

Anderson clearly views himself as a shortstop, and that’s where teams will target him if he reaches free agency.

It would likely take an incredible amount of convincing to get Anderson to change positions. Especially with the recent values of shortstop contracts.

Anderson was an All Star in both 2021, and 2022 for the White Sox.

Potential Trade Partners:

Los Angeles Dodgers:

Since they lost Trea Turner to free agency, and since Gavin Lux was injured this year, the Dodgers have had a large hole at shortstop.

Anderson could play short for the rest of this year. And maybe for the future.

Anderson could remain at short, and Lux could return to second. That would give the Dodgers a credible middle-infield, with good offense and acceptable defense.

Anderson could become the Dodgers shortstop for years to come. That possibility alone, could extract a credible return for Chicago.

If a deal with the Dodgers took place at the trade deadline, to this scout, the Dodgers would have to yield at least two quality players for Anderson. The list for this writer includes:

One from among:

Gavin Stone-RHP

Bobby Miller-RHP

Ryan Pepiot-RHP (currently dealing with an oblique injury)

One from among:

Rayne Doncon-SS/2B

Joendry Vargas/SS

Emmet Sheehan-RHP

Miami Marlins:

The Miami Marlins are improving, but they need to upgrade their shortstop position.

Tim Anderson would provide an excellent long-term solution.

To make a trade work, the Marlins would have to be serious about signing/extending Anderson for their future.

In recent years, the Marlins have not been inclined to offer lengthy, high-value contracts.

The Marlins can solve their shortstop issue long-term by extending Anderson. As a result, the return could include:

Edward Cabrera-RHP

And one from among:

Jake Eder-LHP

Dax Fulton-LHP

Jordan Groshans-3B/SS

Conclusions:

The Chicago White Sox have one more year of control on the contract of shortstop Tim Anderson.

The White Sox hold a $14 million option to sign Anderson for 2024.

By today’s standards, that’s a very reasonable value for shortstops.

But what do the White Sox do beyond that option? Would it be best to trade Anderson this year? Will they want to pay anything close to the amount recently given free agent shortstops?

If the White Sox don’t exercise their 2024 contract option, Anderson will enter free agency.

If the White Sox want to reconstruct their roster, they may choose to start by testing the trade interest in several players, including Tim Anderson.

To this scout, if they take the trade path, sending Anderson to a National League club like the Los Angeles Dodgers, or Miami Marlins makes sense. And the return should be solid.