The Chicago White Sox need to do everything in their power to improve their roster, which means MLB free agency is going to be crucial. While this wouldn’t be one of the main moves for this franchise, signing Tim Anderson for a year could make sense for this franchise.
Anderson had his peak with the White Sox, and when the two parted ways, it seemed clear that was the right move. However, since leaving the White Sox, things haven’t gotten much better.
Now, at 33 years old, Anderson is a free agent. It seems like the end is near, but Anderson could spend one more season with the White Sox. Based on how Anderson has played over the past few years, it seems unlikely he’ll have too many other options.
This is a PREDICTION, not a REPORT.
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Tim Anderson Joining Chicago White Sox in MLB Free Agency
Anderson was the White Sox first round pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, and he would play there for the first eight years of his career. The initial breakout for Anderson was in 2019, where he had a 4.2 WAR, 18 home runs, and a 0.335 batting average.
The next year, Anderson would have a 2.5 WAR, but in the shortened season, he had 10 home runs and a 0.322 batting average through 49 games. That led to Anderson winning the Silver Slugger award and also finishing seventh in MVP voting.
In both 2021 and 2022, Anderson was an All-Star, where he had two great years. However, a mix of injuries and drama would cause such a steep drop off.
In 2022, Anderson made the All-Star game with a 1.3 WAR and 0.301 batting average. Then in 2023, Anderson had a -1.8 WAR with a 0.245 batting average.
To understand where Anderson is right now, last season, he had a 0.0 WAR in 31 games with the Los Angeles Angels. After hitting 0.205, there’s little reason to believe Anderson will ever be a starter again.
How Tim Anderson Fits with the Chicago White Sox
Right now, the White Sox should easily be able to make a spot for Anderson on the bench. With one of the worst rosters in baseball, Anderson would come in and act as a veteran presence for this team.
Although Anderson’s confidence seems to be down right now, coming back to Chicago, where he had some phenomenal years, could help when there’s no pressure on him.
The reason that the White Sox would want Anderson is to help mentor their middle infield. Both Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth are under 25 years old with a ton of potential.
With Montgomery in specific, Anderson knows what needs to be done in order to be an All-Star caliber shortstop for the White Sox. Having Anderson work with Montgomery up close for a year could really be beneficial for his development.
Tim Anderson Stats
We’ve touched on most of Anderson’s stats at this point, but let’s look even deeper into his 2025 season. In 2025, Anderson had a 0.0 WAR, 0.205 batting average, and zero home runs in 83 at-bats.
Beyond that, Anderson also had a 0.258 OBP, 0.241 SLG, and 0.499 OPS. Even with that in mind, the Chicago White Sox would just be signing Tim Anderson as a backup for one year. When looking at things from that lens, this move could make a lot of sense.