The Marlins recently made an offer to free-agent infielder Tim Anderson, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Miami has been on the lookout for help at shortstop throughout the offseason. Their interest in Anderson isn’t a new revelation, but the fact that they just recently put forth an offer is certainly of note.
The 30-year-old Anderson became a free agent back in November when the White Sox declined a $14MM club option. That would’ve seemed unthinkable a year prior, as Anderson was one of the game’s top-hitting middle infielders from 2019-22. During that time, he led all qualified big leaguers in batting average and turned in an overall .318/.347/.473 line in more than 1600 plate appearances.
Fortunes can change quickly, however, and Anderson’s 2023 season was nothing short of calamitous. His average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage somehow all clocked in south of .300; his overall .245/.286/.296 slash and one home run rendered him one of baseball’s least-productive hitters. Anderson saw his exit velocity and hard-hit rate both drop, but the larger issue may have been a sky-high 61.1% ground-ball rate — a jump of nearly 10 percentage points over the 52% mark he’d posted in his career prior to the 2023 campaign. No matter how fast a player may or may not be, it’s difficult to be productive when close to two-thirds of batted balls are hammered into the ground.
On that note, it bears mentioning that Anderson’s speed took a notable hit in 2023. It’s not uncommon for players to lose a step as they enter their 30s, but Anderson’s downturn could well be due to injury. Anderson missed nearly a month early in the 2023 season due to a left knee strain, and the fact that his average sprint speed (per Statcast) dropped by about a full foot per second seems likely to be related. He’d sat between 28 ft/sec and 28.7 ft/sec every season of his career prior to 2023, never ranking lower than the 74th percentile of MLB position players. In 2023, he averaged 27.2 ft/sec and clocked into just the 45th percentile. He still went 13-for-15 in stolen base attempts, but Anderson has always been deft in that regard, evidenced by a career 81.3% success rate.
On what would presumably be a one-year contract, Anderson is a sensible buy-low candidate for a team in need of middle infield help. The Marlins fit that bill and could certainly stand to improve the lineup — which a healthier Anderson could well achieve — but the Miami defense is already quite suspect, which makes Anderson a less optimal fit. With Jake Burger at the hot corner, Luis Arraez at second base and Josh Bell at first base, the Fish already have three questionable infield defenders. Defensive metrics have panned Anderson’s glovework at shortstop for the past two years — making it harder to blame any shortcomings on last year’s injury. Questions about his defense were substantial enough that Anderson voiced a willingness to shift to second base following the ’23 season.
Presumably, that wouldn’t be necessary in Miami, although the Marlins could conceivably shift Arraez to first base and deploy Bell more as the designated hitter. Before trading Arraez to the Marlins, the Twins utilized him more at first base than at second base due to concerns about his defense and his history of knee troubles. Such an alignment could improve the overall defensive outlook of the team, though it would leave the Marlins with the same hole at shortstop they’re currently looking to fill.
It’s not clear how much the Marlins have to spend. Miami is the only team in baseball that has not signed a free agent to a big league contract this winter. They’ve effectively sat out that portion of the market, instead operating only in minor league deals and small trades around the fringes of the roster. Catcher Christian Bethancourt and utilitymen Nick Gordon and Vidal Brujan — all acquired via trade — are the only new additions to the roster so far. Miami has also added veterans like Curt Casali, Trey Mancini, Yonny Chirinos and Matt Andriese on minor league deals.
Most underrated fanbase and history in sports.
All 400 people who attend them Marlin games ain’t no joke
Beautiful park honestly. Went to the WBC final and i go to at least 1 game every year…
When the cubs are in town. And it’s a decent crowd, but vast majority root for the visiting team.
1game a year, wow no wonder y they can’t make payroll. You do you!
They still have the same amount of World Series titles as the Mets tho lol.
400? That’s like 4x the fans they have. It’s sad that Marlins Park first sell outs were for the WBC.
Marlins attendance jokes? That’s a little too original for the average MLBTR commenter. Maybe joke about them being cheap instead?
They ain’t cheap how much did they spend on that ugly homerun structure that they moved outside.
I figure the only explanation is if someone doesn’t make the same tired joke every day Cthulu will devour the Earth. Why else would they bother?
Guys, you have to understand. The reason they make the same tired jokes is because they get all of their sports news from their local team network and E!SPN or FOX Sports. That explains it all.
The day is coming, however, when the Marlins will transform themselves into a perennial powerhouse. Won’t happen overnight – but it will happen. Then the jokers that constantly trash-talk our ballclub will suddenly fall silent. Believe me, that day can’t come soon enough.
@MARLIN POWER 18
I don’t know if you’re old enough to remember, but if you do, remember when they used to do the same thing to the Heat?
I remember the mocking of the Heat the day Micky Arison got majority ownership and made the statements that he was going to change the franchise to one that Heat fans would be proud of and Miami sports fans that weren’t watching them would become fans following them. Those that were mocking started getting concerned and ticked off the day that Pat Riley faxed his resignation to the Knicks, then shortly after, took the Heat job. the rest is history.
Hopefully the Marlins get there soon too.
Maybe a minor league offer. Would have to imagine if it was a major league deal he would take it. Surely Anderson is just looking for a place he can start and try to build his value back up.
No, he will certainly get a major league offer. Look at his track record prior to last season.
I know his track record, he is a fringe mlb deal vs minor league deal guy because he was so bad last year.
He had a knee injury last year and is not old. No way he’s limited to minor league offers. What he’s probably waiting for is a team to offer him a starting job (whether SS or 2B). Not too many openings around baseball in the middle infield, but the Marlins are certainly one of them.
Zero chance of minor league deal. What are you smoking? Anderson is an All Star caliber player when healthy and a guy that can be among the league leaders in batting average.
“Zero chance”…What are you smoking? Tim Anderson is a team morale killer. Who needs or wants another “me, me” guy?
“We know why you really don’t like him”…Said the bigot who wants people of color to always be held to lowered standards of accountability and behavior, right Jack Hoffman?.
Lmao. What a clown.
“What a clown”..People that try to use “race” for everything are America’s true racists, right Jack Hoffman?
Right. He’s a racist because he thinks Tim Anderson is an a** clown of a distraction…That must be the reason.
Hey look, you’re another one!!!
Not much going on in that mind of yours…
Gary Harris: “Ty Cobb? My hero!!! Tim Anderson? He’s just a thug!!”
Sorry then, I thought you were getting personal with me. My bad.
Spring Training has already started. Tim Anderson didn’t take an offer. The chances it was an MLB offer Anderson passed on seems remote.
He’s not an All Star caliber player. He was an All Star caliber player 3 years ago. In 2022, he was a solid enough regular. In 2023 he was one of the 5 worst position players in MLB.
Literally was an All Star in 2022 clown. And no, spring training has not started. Another clown statement by another clown.
Its ok martras, we see your bias. Lol
All Star “caliber” and literally “All Star” are two completely different things. Many players elected to the All Star Game get elected based on reputation from previous season performance. Not to mention some guys are All Stars because every team gets one, like Paul Blackburn for the A’s in 2022.
2.0 WAR is not All Star caliber.
@Jack Hoffman – Yeah, my bias is towards performance, reason and logic.
You clearly don’t know a thing about baseball if you think just because pitchers and catchers reported two days ago then that means a guy like Tim Anderson is a minor leaguer now. Lol. Batting title. Silver Slugger. All Star. All Star. Injured in his walk year, now he’s done? What a clown statement. You just hate him for one reason only. He will get a one year, $12 million dollar major league deal just like they projected on here. And you’ll be crying about it.
“Caliber – the level of someone’s ability.”
Anderson is a 2x All Star. That qualifies as his caliber you goofball.
“Anderson is All Star”…If your point was to make yourself look stupid, silly and racist, you’ve certainly succeeded, Jack Hoffman. Now that you’ve regurgitated your standard elitist racist propaganda, please do the rest of us a favor and exit the internet.
mlb fan – bite me you racist scumbag.
Jack, so by your logic, Dallas Keuchel should get a pretty nice deal, too. He’s a 3x Gold glove winner and former Cy Young winner, and you’re clearly resistant to the idea of acknowledging players do decline. There can’t be any chance Dallas doesn’t lead the league in wins based on past accomplishments, so 1 year, 12 million for Keuchel is fair, yes?
You’re a clown. Pitcher vs hitter. Kuechel is a lot older then Anderson. Anderson is 1 year removed from an All Star season, still in his prime. Mlbtr has Anderson in its list of top 50 free agents, not Kuechel. Try again clown.
Kuechel wasn’t even listed in their honorable mention section you bozo.
What does pitcher versus hitter have to do with it if you won’t acknowledge regression? If you really want to nitpick there though, I could point out that Anderson is a SS, and shortstops typically age faster than other positions…
What, to you, suggests Anderson is still in his prime? His numbers dropped faster than Timmy himself got dropped this past season, just saying…
You don’t know sports clown.
I’m not an Anderson fan but I find it very unlikely a .300 hitter all the sudden forgot how to hit. Clearly he was hurt and clearly there was a lot going on in the White Sox organization considering nearly every single one of their players had bad years.
What is funny to me is a lot of people call black players “clubhouse cancers” Stroman, clubhouse cancer. Anderson, clubhouse cancer… why? Some people are prejudiced without admitting it, the doo rag, the gold chains… must be a selfish me first player right? Other have their opinions swayed by best writers who express their own personal bias.
I think it’s pretty safe to say the White Sox were a dysfunctional team, the Mets while Stroman was there were pretty dysfunctional as well. Is that either players fault? Look at Baez when he went to New York that year, that is an angry bitter fan base, so much so the players gave them a thumbs down!
Could you imagine if Tim Anderson shredded his jersey on game day the way his teammate Chris Sale did? It’s a joke, to be a black baseball player, you have to wear it on the chin like Heyward, otherwise you’re a clubhouse cancer.
Your bar is extremely low for insinuating people racist…
“I’m not an Anderson fan.” Are you racist?
Bias isn’t the same as racism. I never called anyone racist, I did mention their personal bias. A lot of people on this board say they are not racist but their personal bias runs deep towards black players.
“Some people are prejudiced without admitting it, the doo rag, the gold chains… must be a selfish me first player right?”
Is prejudice bias or racism? Maybe someone doesn’t like someone’s style. Stroman had issues leaving other teams ( personally I wasn’t aware of them) Bothered me that he tried to negotiate his contract through the media. But gained respect that he seemed to come back before he was ready at the end of the season.
There were cliques within that White Sox clubhouse. There were problems, and Anderson certainly contributed. I have anecdotal stories, and I’ll share when I come to Nashville.
Chris Sale was a model player in Chicago. Still people were like WTF, when that went down. Half ripped him, and half supported a stance against management. I live in Chicago, and I’m married to a Sox fan. He did not get a free pass.
Heyward was a class act, but got screwed no different the Hosmer, Barnhart and Mancini. Fans were unhappy that He years was black, they were unhappy with production v salary.
Sometimes people are racist, but just because people are critical of Anderson, doesn’t make them racist. He brought a lot of the attention to himself.
That should read “Heyward was a class act, but got skewered no different than Hosmer, Barnhart and Mancini. Fans weren’t unhappy that he was black, they were unhappy with production v salary.”
Martras “Spring Training has already started. Tim Anderson didn’t take an offer. The chances it was an MLB offer Anderson passed on seems remote.” yeah, you don’t know how this works, but I already knew that. Clown.
Tim Anderson WAS an all star caliber player but has proven to be a me me guy and a clubhouse cancer who can no longer hit or run, no value, which is unfortunate because that Cubs could’ve moved him to 3B, he can at least hit 3 HR which is more than Madrigal.
You were never in the clubhouse with him clown.
Your over use of the word “clown”, I like it. You’re a wordsmith of sorts, aren’t you? You must have peaked early in life
Anderson’s option was declined by one of the worst teams in the game. He is also without a contract as spring training starts. Beggars can’t be choosers. Its not like he’s deciding among the many contract offers.
You don’t know how this works. Even MLBTR said he will get a 1yr/$12mil deal you clown. Yeah, really begging.
You seem to believe that MLBTR is never wrong. Spring training has started. He doesn’t have any contract. Should he really be worried, or feel insulted, or dig in his heels, if someone offers him a chance to play? Maybe he’s saved up and doesn’t need to play this year. I just know there is not a line at his door.
Spring training has not started except for pitchers and catchers reporting. And theres dozens of top players like Anderson who have still not signed. You’re attempt at making a point means nothing. And you don’t have a clue about what is going on with him contract wise.
I thought you said spring training started so Tim Anderson couldn’t get a major league contract? Lol clown
In fairness, it might be announced as a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, with the understanding he’s making the MLB roster. Those are common right now as teams don’t have to make a roster move until the end of camp by which time injuries will almost assuredly have occurred. If they sign him, he’s on the Marlins.
TA has had such a weird trajectory. Wonder how much his personality is pushing teams away. He beefed with Donaldson, got clocked by Ramirez. Maybe the dude’s known as a negative clubhouse presence around the league? That or he just fell off a cliff.
On the contrary he is known as a very community oriented, grounded, excellent dude. I think it was Donaldson and Ramirez (don’t remember the latter, but if you say so) that were the off-putting personalities. Donaldson is certainly known for that.
Ramirez punched him square in his face.
OK. And that’s somehow reflects on TA’s character?
TBH no matter what his actual demeanor is, he’ll be remembered -stats aside- as the guy who tried to Jackie Robinson himself AND the guy who got famously KO’d.
In the end he shouldn’t care and just make his money and his service time 10.
“T.A’s character”…JRam is considered one of the easiest going, best, nicest players in MLB. If he socks you, you are almost certainly hated by the overwhelming majority of players. Lowering behavioral standards(for some people)creates a second-class group of Americans.
What wasn’t said is that Anderson started the fight with Ramirez but got the worst of it.
He had a pretty public affair that was a bad look for a guy who says he’s family-oriented. Tim seems more like someone who talks the talk instead of walking it. I’m a Sox fan, and I never got the feeling he was respected for his leadership. I think he was respected because he was a batting champ, but as his skills faded, so did his respect.
And jose Ramirez deserves respect. He’s as solid a player as they come, he lets his play do the talking, and he took a team friendly deal. He looks out for more than #1.
That AND he fell off a cliff.
@Bra Joni
Wait…you mean to tell me that when you get into a fight with players on opposing teams, you’re a clubhouse problem?
My gosh! And I thought it was when you fought your own teammates. Why was someone like Monte Harrison dumped off after fighting with his own teammate, Starling Marte, when they were both with the Marlins? Hmmmm. Why did Miggy Cabrera get into that scuffle with Avi Garcia for what he did with the wife of their teammate at the time, Prince Fielder?
My gosh! So you mean having issues with opposing players are the problem? My world is backward now!
Why did Braves veteran players support Terry Pendleton for walking off the field when a pitcher refused to hit a batter in retaliation for the opposing team’s pitcher hitting one of their teamates?
Not only did Anderson’s #s plummet,but he proved to have a glass jaw and to be pretty much of a jerk. Jackie Robinson? Right.
When was he a jerk?
Pretty much the whole season against the guardians last year… Hence the introduction to Jose’s fist
No question in my mind that Josh McDonald is a bigger jerk. But after Anderson called himself (and I’m probably off a bit on the exact quote), the present day Jackie Robinson in an article, he should have known he’d get ribbed.
McDonald said something like Hi Jackie and Anderson blows it up into some non existent racial reference. That’s one of a number of times I’ve seen him act out. Looks like turning down that $14M option was a huge screw up.
Who is “Josh McDonald”? A Scottish golfer?
Josh Donaldson bro… And you messed up John McDonald too. 0-2.
The Sox declined the option, not Tim.
I agree if it was a major league offer he should take it. But Escobar had to take a minor league offer so that may be all TA gets too. Last season was atrocious.
What’s done is done as far as he should have stayed single in his playing days like Jeter if he wanted to enjoy the freedom of a pro athlete. That outside stuff didn’t help. He is worth giving a shot, but more as 2B for teams that know he is likely to miss at least 25% of the games.
This seems like the most logical landing spot for him.
I disagree, the most logical spot for him is on the Twins.
The LG Twins in the KBO 🙂
Tim now knows what it’s like from being a chooser to now being a beggar. He better take that job.
He’s going to have to take it on the chin and accept any offer
Anderson possibly could have a bounce back year and with Miami desperate for a shortstop the fit is there for both. However, he’s a punk who’s a bad presence in the locker room and a lousy teammate. They should ask Jake Burger if he’d like to be reunited with the TA Show. A small one year deal would work so if he lets his true personality out Miami could say ta ta TA
Miami wants a SS bad, not a bad SS.
There looks to be a minor typo in the 2nd sentence of the 3rd paragraph. It says “north” instead of “south.” Not meaning to nitpick, just hoping to help.
Maybe the writer is from Australia.
Thank you S for my first smile of the day. In my mid 20’s, spent a few of our winters down under lifeguarding in Australia, good times.
I happen to know that 23 was a rough season for TA on a personal level. Not making excuses for him, but he was dealing with a serious relationship issue, and hell, Ryne Sandberg once retired from baseball because he lost his fire while going through a divorce! And he left millions on the table. So, never underestimate how much those things can affect a player. Plus, the injuries, so that makes him a pretty solid bounce-back candidate, in my opinion.
Totally agree with this. It appears his professional life tanked in line with his personal. Often times, they never can get it back…ie. Tiger Woods.
TA and his marital problems are from himself Coop. It is not normal fathering children with women who are NOT your wife.
Minor league deal or one year deal with low base salary with performance escalators is all they should offer.
As for the other guys they’ve brought in; i could see Mancini making the roster in a Garrett Cooper 1B/DH/OF role. And Chirinos could have a chance to crack the backend of the rotation like Cueto did last season
TA would be the second best offensive player on the whole freakin’ Marlins team. No way they’re offering minor league.
People quickly forgetting how good he’s been prior to an injury-hampered season last year.
I hope Chirinos doesn’t crack the rotation and produce like Cueto did last year.
What a waste of a roster spot let alone money he was.
The infield defense would be atrocious, but the lineup would be all vibes, especially if Anderson hits the way he’s capable of. Make it happen Miami.
1. TA
2. Arraez
3. Jazz
4. Burger
5. Bell
6. Sanchez
7. De La Cruz
8. Garcia
9. Forte
What does “would be all vibes” mean?
In this case, a bunch of eclectic personalities that are hitter-ish, but can’t do anything else.
Unfortunately for Tim he isn’t going to receive a contract that’s going to completely knock him off his feet
Yeah. The guardians don’t have an offer for him.
Jose Ramirez is his father
TA is a bad defender undoubtedly. But he’s had several 3-4 WAR seasons, which would have been 5-6 WAR seasons if not for his bad defense. His offense more than makes up for terrible defense – when he’s right. But if he hits like last year, he is unplayable. If he hits but not as well as a few years ago, he isn’t worth much as a SS. He might be better suited for LF or DH in the long run. He’s athletic enough to play LF. I mean if guys like Schwarber can do it, Tim certainly can adapt to at least that level.
As a Sox fan I wish him well, seems like a very troubled young man. Massive talent as a hitter, one of the best right handed hitters to the opposite field in Sox history for sure. I would think he is a good bet to revive his career to some extent, we’ll see. Hopefully he gets some psychological help.
Im not gonna say I want to to happen personally but Baltimore needs to swap holiday for Cabrera and both teams call it a day.
I hehehate to say but I think you made a wrong turn.
I don’t want Cabrera going anywhere but Pittsburgh believe me
No doubt, but too light. They should tack on Gunnar. Cabrera is going to instantly transform into the best starter in MLB by a mile and no one yet realizes it.
Trust I’m a believer more than anyone but this just screams baseball trade to me on two clearly defined needs for both clubs. With the ownership turnover I can see much more aggression on this now.
Tim Anderson probably going to be the steal of the off-season. It’s rare to see a perennial top player drop so badly after one bad season. Usually it takes 2-3 years of sustained sucking for guys with proven track records. I am sure the less than positive media coverage didn’t help.
I can only speculate that MIA gave him a super lowball offer – maybe even a minors invite. He may end up having to take it. A’s may also consider him on a low 1-year deal in hopes of flipping him at the deadline.
Great candidate for the As flipping him at the deadline if his hitting recovers.
What he seems to need is a new agent…
1) It’s a mystery why he doesn’t have a contract or at least some press out there on what is happening with him and why he doesn’t have any offers. (Maybe that’s where this rumor came from but it is February 16 not last November)
2) He seems to have a reputation as a jerk which a lot of people in the comments are saying isn’t true. I admit I don’t follow the White Sox very closely but had the same impression of him. He’s need some good press on this as well.
Negative WAR has a pretty solid impact on player value.
If it was a smidge over league minimum Jackie should have jumped all over it.
Peter Bendix, what are you doing? TA has terrible defense and terrible makeup. Nick Ahmed is who you want.
I think Anderson’s knee injury is to blame for last season. If someone who needs, preferably a 2B, like Pittsburgh, then they should sign Anderson. You don’t go from .300 to literally the least productive hitter in 1 season at age 30. The guys mojo was out of whack. If Detroit didn’t have Keith, I wouldn’t have minded them signing him. He may not be a SS anymore, but I’d bet money he’s a .275 hitter with 15 and 20 still, when healthy. He probably couldn’t turn that knee and beat the ball into the ground. Whatever it is, it’s fixable if healthy, I bet. And worse case scenario, it’s a 1 year deal and maybe even a minor league deal.
Anderson was awful in the field last season. Saw him make several additional errors which were NOT charged vs Cleveland in two series over two weeks. He was playing SS. I never liked his personality from watching without audio. Too cocky for me. But I am not the decision maker.
Amed Rosario is comparable in field, but also better suited for 2B. Rosario is great team player, Hustles all the time. He is .280 lifetime but no walks. Tough call for Miami fans. They would enjoy Rosario but Anderson has better ‘track record’
Either of these 2 would create defensive circumstance that would not solve defensive woes in Miami infield. 2B is better for Anderson and Rosario. ..Then Arraez and Bell platoon 1B with DH. ..Not optimum but better overall. Still, who is SS?
Nick Ahmed?
If Timmy all of a sudden remembers how to hit he may be a good pick up on the cheap.
I’d be ok with this as long as it’s a 1 year deal. And if Gio Ursela is signed as well – If he is in between last year and his peak performance, at the minimum, I think it’d be a steal for Miami.
His personality makes me nervous but at the same time, could bring some additional fire to a Marlins team that could use it.
Minor or Major league contract, hoping this young man gets his stuff together and proves himself – again, this year. I’m sure he is receiving 2-3 offers. I think that the Angels at one point were interested. Good luck to him. Leave the cool and antics at home, but you can be smooth. LOL
This thing with Tim Anderson and Amed Rosario is seeming like last year when the Marlins had the contract to Yuli Gurriel out for months, but he waited until he saw no better offers were coming in, so he signed right as Spring Training was beginning.
To me, I think both Anderson and Rosario are hurting themselves by not getting into a camp. They both need big bounceback years, so they need real practice in a camp instead of thinking practicing at home or on their own at nearby facilities is helping them at the same level as if they were in camp.
Another bad or mediocre year from either of them, and they are soending the rest of their careers as utility players.