Two years ago, Tim Anderson started at shortstop for the American League at the MLB All-Star Game. Now he’s being designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins, the Miami Herald and MLB.com reported on Tuesday.
The Marlins signed Anderson to a one-year, $5 million contract as a free agent in February hoping the former Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa standout would regain his all-star form.
But in 65 games this season, Anderson has a .214 batting average, a .237 on-base percentage and a .226 slugging percentage. With 68, he has 11 more strikeouts than hits and walks combined in the 2024 season.
By designating Anderson for assignment, the Marlins will remove him from their 40-man roster and have seven days to trade or waive the shortstop.
Anderson’s .318 batting average from 2019 through 2022 was the highest in the Major Leagues for any player with at least 1,000 at-bats across those four seasons. Playing for the Chicago White Sox, Anderson was an American League all-star selection in 2021 and 2022 and won the American League batting championship in 2019 and a Silver Slugger Award in 2020.
But in 2023, Anderson hit .245 with a .286 on-base average and .296 slugging percentage. Anderson missed about three weeks with a knee sprain and dealt with shoulder soreness during the season.
The White Sox had signed Anderson to a six-year, $25 million contract before the 2017 season. He had played 99 games in the 2016 season, and at that time, his deal was the most lucrative signed by a player with less than one full season of MLB experience.
The contract included team options for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Chicago declined the 2024 option, choosing to pay Anderson a $1 million buyout to become a free agent rather than $14 million to play for the White Sox this season.
Anderson earned All-State honors at Hillcrest High School in 2011. He also helped the Patriots win the AHSAA Class 6A boys’ basketball championship that year.
The White Sox chose Anderson from East Central Community College at No. 17 in the 2013 draft, and he became Chicago’s regular shortstop during the 2016 season, a position he held for the next seven seasons.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
