New Team Interested in Trading for Tim Anderson

The Chicago White Sox officially waived the white flag on Wednesday night, when they traded right-handed starting pitcher Lucas Giolito and right-handed reliever Reynaldo Lopez to the Los Angeles Angels for a pair of prospects. While most MLB analysts expect the White Sox to complete a few more deals there's one player who has definitely drawn more interest since the All-Star break.

According to ESPN's Jesse Rogers, the Miami Marlins have been looking into trading for White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson.

Via ESPN.

The Marlins are looking at White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, who has finally gotten hot. He still ranks last in OPS among all qualified hitters, but his approach at the plate after the All-Star break has been much better. Anderson is hitting balls to right field again; that's when he is at his best. Miami ranks 25th in OPS at shortstop -- still ahead of the White Sox -- but Anderson is a more proven commodity than anyone the Marlins employ. A change of scenery and a smaller market could do him some good, as well. 

Anderson, 30, has had a rough 2023 as a whole, putting up a slash line of .245/.285/.285, and he's yet to homer in 78 games with the White Sox. However, since the calendar flipped to July, the two-time American League All-Star has looked like one of the premier hitters that he was from 2019-22.

In 19 games this month Anderson is hitting .300, (24-for-80) and he's been on fire since the All-Star break. In the past 11 games, the shortstop is slashing .378/.440/.422, going 17-for-45 at the plate with a 148 wRC+. This red-hot stretch includes 7 multi-hit games.

The Marlins are hurting big time since the All-Star break, going 2-9, and falling to 55-48 and 0.5 games back for the third Wild Card spot in the National League. Miami has tried every option available to them at shortstop, using  Joey Wendle, Jon Berti, Garrett Hampson and Jacob Amaya at throughout the season. Overall in 2023, Marlins shortstops are hitting .258/.301/.335.

So a few things here. Anderson is still owed about another $4.5 million for the rest of the 2023 season, which isn't bad if he can sustain his recent success. He also has a $14 million club option for the 2024 season that also includes a $1 million buyout. Ultimately, keeping Anderson has to mean the White Sox are hoping they have a roster than can compete next year, but I guess they could hope for a bounce back season and then get more for Anderson in a trade next summer.

However, it's not like Anderson is currently seen as an untouchable player on the South Side. According to Jon Heyman, the White Sox only consider Luis Robert Jr., Eloy Jimenez, Andrew Vaughn and Dylan Cease as untouchables and are saying no to any trade offers for them. And then there was this from Jon Morosi, who said a week ago that the chances of a Tim Anderson trade are increasing.

This week, Morosi listed the San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners as possible suitors for Anderson.

However, unless the White Sox get a ridiculous offer, it doesn't seem like they're going to trade Anderson in the next week if Bob Nightengale's report holds true.

No matter what and despite his hot stretch, I'd say it would be a bad move to trade Anderson right now, when his value is at its lowest. The White Sox can bring him back for $14 million next season and if the team disappoints again, then look for a deal at next year's trade deadline.