10:48am: Edwards will certainly be missed to replace Anderson in the lineup, reports Christina De Nicola of MLB.com.
10:28am: The Marlins designated an infielder Tim Anderson per share, reports Craig Mish of SportsGrid and the Miami Herald. The team has yet to officially announce the move.
Anderson, 31, was Miami's lone major league signing in free agency this past season. He inked a one-year, $5MM contract after a career-worst .245/.286/.296 showing in his final season with the White Sox — the only organization he's ever known. Both Anderson and the Marlins envision some sort of average rebound — if not to the .318/.347/.473 slash he posted in 2019-22, at least to the point where he'll regain his status as a working regular. in the big league infield.
Instead, Anderson's production dropped even further. He posted career-worst marks in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and strikeout rate — all while posting the second-worst walk rate of his career. In 241 plate appearances, Anderson is hitting .214/.237/.226 with no home runs, a 28.2% strikeout rate and a 2.9% walk rate. Of the 230 hitters this season who have reached at least 200 plate appearances, none have a wRC+ lower than Anderson's mark of 31 (which indicates he has been 69% worse than the league average at the plate).
While the Marlins technically have five days to trade Anderson, chances are he'll just be released. The team won't seek the rest of this season's salary if he's waived, and that contract and Anderson's performance over the past two seasons make him less of a trade value. Once he clears waivers, he will be free to sign with any club on a minor league or major league contract. The new team will owe Anderson only the minor league minimum for any days spent on the MLB roster or injured list. That amount will be deducted from what Miami is required to pay, but the Fish are in a position to spend most of his salary regardless.
Anderson's departure from the lineup will erase playing time for the young hitters Vidal Brujan and maybe Xavier Edwards. Brujan, once one of Tampa Bay's top prospects, is hitting .238/.306/.343 in 157 plate appearances with Miami but has received little playing time. Edwards, another former Rays prospect, spent most of the season at Triple-A Jacksonville and is hitting .330/.376/.450 in 119 trips to the plate. Small sample encouraged by a huge .361 average on balls in play, but Edwards made tons of contact (9.2% batting average). His ball skills and speed have long been his calling cards, and at this point there is little reason for a team in Miami's situation. not looking at someone like Edwards and/or Brujan over Anderson.
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