Tim Anderson agrees with Miami Marlins on 1-year, $5 million deal
The 2019 AL batting champ is looking for a bounce-back season in 2024
The Miami Marlins have made a late free-agent addition, signing shortstop Tim Anderson to a 1-year deal agreed to Thursday, sources confirm to Yahoo Sports. The deal is worth $5 million, with a $500,000 trade escalator. Miami’s interest in Anderson dates to last season, when the team inquired about him at the trade deadline.
The Giants and Angels were in on Anderson all offseason, sources tell @YahooSports. But it’s the Marlins that land the former batting champ looking for a bounceback. Their interest dates back to the ‘23 trade deadline. https://t.co/DMaX9WX9Ih
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) February 22, 2024
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Anderson, who spent his first eight MLB seasons with the Chicago White Sox, is looking for a bounce-back season to reset his value in 2024. The two-time All-Star is coming off the worst season of his career, in which he slashed .245/.286/.296 with one home run and an MLB-worst .582 OPS before the White Sox declined his option in November. He has also dealt with a variety of injuries the past two seasons, including to his right wrist, right shoulder and left knee.
Despite Anderson's '23 to forget, the move is a risk worth taking for a Marlins team looking for offensive impact and upside. Anderson is only 30 years old, and prior to last season, he had four consecutive seasons hitting over .300, including three with an OPS above .800. In that time, he made two All-Star appearances and won a Silver Slugger Award and the 2019 AL batting title.
Miami could be the change of scenery the speedy shortstop needs to reignite his career, and the team could give Anderson an opportunity to compete for a playoff spot after he was part of winning seasons in just two of his years in Chicago. The Marlins reached the postseason for the fourth time in franchise history last season before falling to the Phillies in the wild-card round. They’ve had instability at shortstop since the departure of Miguel Rojas, so Anderson fills a positional need.
The word of the day is upside. It’s what the Marlins are hoping for with Tim Anderson’s deal.
Excited to do more fun breakdowns of trades/signings for @YahooSports this year.
Here’s No. 1! https://t.co/yZEIj3qHwe pic.twitter.com/8LCBSZxjeW— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) February 23, 2024
In Miami, Anderson joins a lineup that features 2023 NL batting champ Luís Arraez, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Josh Bell. He will also be reunited with former White Sox teammates Avisaíl García and Jake Burger, who had an .860 OPS in 53 games with the Marlins last season.
Anderson was among the top free agents still looking for a team as full-squad workouts began this week. He was No. 13 on Yahoo Sports' list of this winter's top 25 free agents. Sources tell Yahoo Sports that the Giants and Angels were the other finalists to sign him.
