Odds of Tim Anderson being traded ‘on the rise’: Reports originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Tim Anderson is one of many players rumored to be on the move at MLB’s trade deadline.
A report by Jon Heyman detailed the White Sox’s plan to prevent Dylan Cease, Luis Robert Jr., Eloy Jimenez and Andrew Vaughn from being traded at the deadline. The list did not include Anderson.
Now the rumors are heating up more. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported that the odds of Anderson being moved to the deadline are “increasing,” with a slight caveat.
Anderson actually played second base for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic in the spring. Trae Turner filled in at shortstop, motivating Anderson to play second base to stay in the lineup.
He dutifully accepted the role, citing his reluctant attitude at first.
“I knew in the beginning he (Team USA manager Mark DeRosa) wanted me to play (second base),” Anderson said in March. “At first I wasn’t open, but I wanted my stick in the lineup, so I wanted to play. Going to second wasn’t easy but it definitely worked out.”
Anderson gained a new perspective playing second base, saying he would be open to playing there in the future. However, he sees plenty of shortstop days ahead of him as things stand.
“We’ll keep playing our time until we see what happens,” Anderson said. “But at the moment our main focus is to come back in the short term, see where it takes me in the next few years. I’ll always be open to the second, but once I’m done with the short term. We’ll see how it goes,” Anderson said.
Anderson’s chances of being traded are questionable, despite the report, in my opinion. He endured a tough start to the season at the plate, batting .223 before the All-Star break, failing to hit a home run, and batting 61 times in 274 plate appearances.
Since then it has improved considerably, but with a small sample. He is hitting .375 in 24 at-bats with an .861 OPS. He puts the ball in play and creates a dangerous 1-2-3 formation with Andrew Benintendi, himself and Luis Robert Jr., the latter having a career year at the plate.
He has a friendly contract with the team, having one more season on his contract after this one which is a club option. If a team chooses to trade for him, they could decline their option for next season or lock him out of free agency the following offseason when his contract expires.
If Anderson were in the market, there could be considerable interest in his services, especially if he maintains his current form at home plate. Former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen would like to see him play on the West Coast if he is traded.
“I think TA next to Mookie (Betts) and TA doesn’t have to be the man, the braggart,” Guillen said, alluding to the Dodgers as a perfect destination for Anderson. “I think it would be good for him to play with people who will push him to play better. And with the manager (Dave) Roberts, I guarantee that Tim Anderson will be a great ball player.
“If they (the White Sox) are going to trade him, hopefully it’ll be to the Dodgers because I know TA would be great with the Dodgers.”
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