End of Tim Anderson era may be near for the Chicago White Sox

The end of an era is never easy and that is especially true for fan-favorites on teams such as the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox lost to the Boston Red Sox on Friday night and with the loss, the team now moved to 13 games below the .500 mark on the season and 7 games out of first place in the American League Central division.

Friday also the return of Tim Anderson as he started his first game for the White Sox since last Saturday but in a sign that the White Sox may be preparing for life after Anderson, the long-time shortstop started at second base for the team.

Anderson was 0-for-3 on the night and while he did have a sacrifice fly that plated the team’s only run on the night, he also committed his seventh error on the season.

It has been another disappointing season for Anderson as he is slashing .245/.284/.288 on the season with a wRC+ of 59.

This feels like the end for Tim Anderson and the Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox hold a $14MM club option on Anderson for the 2024 season and while that is typically a bargain deal for an All-Star caliber player at a premium position, bringing Anderson back would just further the mediocrity for the team.

There is no doubt that this is a dramatic change of tune for the White Sox as it was only two years ago at the Field of Dreams game that Anderson seemed to be on the cusp of being the face of Major League Baseball. 

But, as the White Sox are learning, there are no guarantees in Major League Baseball. Anderson appears to be broken and is indifferent on the idea of remaining with the White Sox. Whether it was potentially saying to former teammate Jose Abreu that “he thates this place” in reference to the White Sox or not ruling out life after the White Sox in a recent interview with Ryan Clark, it has become clear that the days of Anderson being the face of the team are over.