White Sox decline option on Tim Anderson, making shortstop a free agent

White Sox decline option on Tim Anderson, making shortstop a free agent

originally appeared on
NBC Sports Chicago

After an unexpectedly rough season from the South Side’s All-Star and former batting champion Tim Anderson, the
Chicago White Sox
appear to be parting ways with their long-standing shortstop, as announced by the club on Saturday.

Anderson, at the age of 30, experienced the worst year of his career by a significant margin after being one of the sport’s most consistent contact hitters for several seasons.

In 2023, Anderson struggled with a 60 OPS+, registering a mere .245/.286/.296 slash line and hitting only one home run. His slugging percentage fell below his batting average from the previous year, where he achieved a 109 OPS+ while hitting .301.

Anderson’s troubles extended beyond the batter’s box, with his defensive WAR at -0.9 and a -1 outs above average.

Unfortunately for the veteran shortstop, his most notable moment of the year was an
on-field brawl
with José Ramírez of the Cleveland Guardians in August that resulted in Anderson receiving a six-game suspension.

With the White Sox declining Anderson’s $14 million option for 2024, Anderson will now likely seek a one-year contract with a team in need of middle infield depth, hoping that 2023 was an anomaly in his career.

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