MLB Rumors: Tim Anderson Receives Marlins Contract Offer amid Ongoing Free Agency

With pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training this week, the Miami Marlins are reportedly showing interest in one of the top remaining free agents available.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Marlins have made a contract offer to free-agent shortstop Tim Anderson.

Anderson, 30, has spent his entire eight-year MLB career with the Chicago White Sox, but he may have to continue his playing career elsewhere, as there has been no indication that the Sox want to bring him back.

On the heels of several highly productive seasons in a row, Anderson took a significant step back last year, hitting just .245 with a career-low one home run, plus 25 RBI, 52 runs scored and 13 stolen bases.

Anderson was a useful player right out of the gates as a rookie in 2016, and after hitting a career-high 20 homers in 2018, his true breakout campaign came in 2019.

In addition to hitting 18 home runs with 56 RBI, 81 runs and 17 steals, Anderson won his first and only American League batting title to date by hitting .335.

That marked the start of a four-year run in which Anderson hit .300 or better each season. He was also a two-time All-Star and one-time Silver Slugger Award winner during that timeframe, plus he finished seventh in AL MVP voting in the COVID-shortened 2020 season when he hit .322 with 10 home runs and 21 RBI in 49 games.

Anderson was an All-Star in 2022, but injuries limited him to just 79 games, and he hit .301 with six homers, 25 RBI, 50 runs and 13 steals.

Injuries were an issue again last season, as a knee injury landed him on the injured list and contributed to him appearing in only 123 games.

As nightmarish as the 2023 season was for Anderson, who showed glimpses of his usual self during the World Baseball Classic before the season when he hit .333 with five RBI and three runs scored in six games for Team USA.

Anderson also showcased some versatility, as he played second base despite having been exclusively a shortstop during his MLB career previously.

Due to the presence of second baseman Luis Arráez, the Marlins would likely ask Anderson to play shortstop far more than second base, but the ability to play both middle infield positions does add to his value.

As of now, utility player Jon Berti is penciled in as the Marlins' starting shortstop for 2023, however, he would likely be far more valuable as a plug-and-play guy at multiple positions.

Rosenthal noted that the Marlins are indeed looking for an everyday shortstop, and there is little doubt that Anderson can fill that role when healthy.

The Marlins are the only team to have not signed a Major League free agent this offseason, but Rosenthal reported that the Marlins are speaking with third baseman Gio Urshela in addition to Anderson, so Miami could be busy soon.

Miami surprised many last season by reaching the playoffs with an 84-78 record, and while signing Anderson wouldn't necessarily elevate the Marlins to championship contender status, it would fill a hole and help keep them in playoff contention at the very least.