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 uncharacteristically bumpy season from All-Star and former batting champion Tim Anderson on the South Side, the Chicago White Sox appear to be moving on from their longtime shortstop, the club announced Saturday.
Anderson, 30, is coming off the worst year of his career by a considerable margin after spending several seasons as one of the sport's most consistent contact hitters.
In 2023, Anderson struggled to a 60 OPS+, managing just a .245/.286/.296 slash line while hitting just home run. His slugging percentage came in below his batting average just the year prior, when Anderson hit .301 in a 2022 campaign where he managed a 109 OPS+
Anderson's problems went beyond the batter's box, with his glove coming in at -0.9 defensive WAR 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 garnered Anderson a six-game suspension.
With the White Sox declining Anderson's $14 million option for 2024, Anderson will now likely search for a one-year deal with a club in need of middle infield depth in hopes that 2023 was an anomaly in his career.
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