The Chicago White Sox are nine games back of first place in the AL Central Division and as we get closer to the Aug. 1 trade deadline, the chances of a Tim Anderson trade are increasing by the day.
According to MLB insider Jon Morosi, teams are keeping a close eye on the all-star shortstop, who has been on fire since the second half of the season began last weekend. Anderson, who has a $14 million club option for the 2024 season, is beginning to draw more interest in the trade market, as he's beginning to show signs of his former self at the plate.
Going back to before the all-star break, Anderson is hitting .310, with an above average 108 wRC+, going 9-for-29 in his last seven games. During that stretch, Anderson has four multi-hit games.
From 2019-22, Anderson played in 374 games. He put up a slash line of .318/.347/.473, a 123 wRC+ and his combined 13.6 fWAR ranked 27th out of 247 players. The shortstop rose to stardom after a lackluster beginning of his career, earning back-to-back All-Star team selections in 2021 and 2022.
While, Anderson has struggles this year and it's been bad, he was the worst qualified hitter heading into this season's All-Star Game, perception is everything.
Earlier this week, MLB insider Jon Heyman wrote about Anderson's trade market and despite the bad overall numbers in 2023, the White Sox shortstop still has a good reputation around the league.
Via the New York Post.
Tim Anderson may yet have trade value despite his putrid year. Said a rival: “He’s still Tim Anderson.”
While it's still difficult to try and evaluate Anderson's value in trade talks, the White Sox may be able to squeeze out a much better return in a deal if they do a package trade with one of the interested teams.
Take for example the Los Angeles Dodgers, who entering Friday, ranked 25th in MLB in offensive production at the shortstop position with a 70 wRC+. The Dodgers have also been in the mix for White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito.
Earlier on Friday, Morosi also reported that the Arizona Diamondbacks are showing active interest in Giolito, who will be a free agent following the 2023 season.
The Diamondbacks aren't in desperate need of middle infield help, but as we discussed on this week's Pinwheels And Ivy Podcast, if you can get both NL West teams in a bidding war for Giolito, then the return begins to look a lot better than first anticipated.
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