According to a report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Miami Marlins have recently made an offer to infielder Tim Anderson, who is currently a free agent. This comes as no surprise, as the Marlins have been actively seeking help at the shortstop position throughout the offseason. While it’s not clear how much the Marlins are willing to spend, the fact that they have made an offer to Anderson is worth noting.
Anderson, who is 30 years old, became a free agent in November after the Chicago White Sox declined his $14 million club option. This decision was unexpected, considering Anderson’s impressive performance as one of the top-hitting middle infielders in the game from 2019 to 2022. During that time, he led all qualified players in batting average and maintained an impressive overall slash line of .318/.347/.473 over more than 1600 plate appearances.
However, Anderson’s fortunes took a drastic turn in the 2023 season. His performance plummeted, with his average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage all dropping below .300. His overall slash line of .245/.286/.296 and one home run made him one of the least productive hitters in baseball. The decrease in his exit velocity and hard-hit rate, coupled with a significant increase in his ground-ball rate, contributed to his struggles.
Furthermore, Anderson’s speed also declined in 2023. While it’s not uncommon for players to lose some speed as they enter their 30s, Anderson’s decline may be attributed to a left knee strain that caused him to miss nearly a month of the season. His average sprint speed dropped, and he ranked lower than ever before among MLB position players. Despite this, Anderson still had a solid stolen base success rate.
Considering Anderson’s struggles in 2023, he could be a valuable acquisition for a team in need of middle infield help. The Marlins fit this description, but their defense is already questionable, making Anderson a less than ideal fit. The team already has three infielders with defensive concerns, and Anderson’s own defensive metrics at shortstop have been criticized for the past two years. In fact, Anderson has expressed a willingness to play second base if needed.
The Marlins could potentially rearrange their infield to accommodate Anderson. They could move Luis Arraez to first base and have Josh Bell serve as the designated hitter. This would improve the team’s overall defense but would leave a vacancy at shortstop, which is the position they are currently trying to fill.
It’s worth noting that the Marlins have been relatively inactive in the free agent market this offseason. They have not signed any free agents to big league contracts and have instead focused on minor league deals and small trades. Their only notable additions so far include Christian Bethancourt, Nick Gordon, and Vidal Brujan, who were acquired via trade, as well as veterans Curt Casali, Trey Mancini, Yonny Chirinos, and Matt Andriese on minor league deals.
According to the Source mlbtraderumors.com