The Los Angeles Angels have “strong interest” in free agent shortstop Tim Anderson after the Chicago White Sox declined his option for 2024.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA todaythe Angels could move Anderson to second base if they sign him.
The 30-year-old finished with a career-low .582 OPS last season, although he was named an All-Star in 2021 and 2022.
Angels general manager Perry Minasian is likely betting that Anderson’s 2023 campaign was an exception rather than the start of a negative career trajectory.
“We have to win games in different ways,” Minasian said earlier this offseason. MLB Network. “If there’s a day we have to pitch and play defense and it’s a low-scoring game, we have to figure out how to do it. Move a runner. Score a man on third with less than 2 outs. Play in situational baseball. “When there’s a day where we have to do well and score some runs, we have to do that too. “
Anderson has been an excellent situational hitter throughout his career. With a runner on third and less than two outs, he owns a .336/.366/.479 slash line while recording 87 RBIs in 164 plate appearances.
He hit over .300 in each of the four seasons leading up to 2023, winning the batting title in 2019.
Meanwhile, the Angels as a team hit just .245 last season. This ranks 18th in the league.
The White Sox continued to cut payroll by declining Anderson’s option, while general manager Chris Getz was outspoken about the roster after a disappointing 101-loss season.
“I don’t like my team,” Getz said, according to Nightengale. “We have a talented group, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s not a complete club at the moment.”
