GLENDALE, Ariz. — Shortstop Tim Anderson’s career on the South Side officially came to an end Thursday with the free agent’s agreement on a one-year contract with the Marlins, a source confirmed.
The deal, worth $5 million, is pending a physical.
The two-time All-Star became a free agent after the 2023 season when the White Sox declined a $14 million option, completing a six-year, $25 million contract.
Anderson, 30, a first-round pick of the Sox in 2013 once viewed as the face of the franchise, led the major leagues with a .335 average in 2019 but had the worst season of his career in ’23, batting .245/.296/.245 with a .582 OPS and one home run.
Anderson fills a void at shortstop for the Marlins.
“If [the reports] are true, I’m really excited,” Marlins third baseman and former Sox teammate Jake Burger told reporters.
“He was a great teammate to me and a great friend. He obviously didn’t have the year he wanted to last year, but I think a change of scenery and getting around a good culture that [Marlins manager] Skip [Schumaker] has built here will be huge.”
Players safe with Grifol
If nothing but positive tones are sensed from Sox manager Pedro Grifol this spring training, it’s because Grifol rarely goes negative publicly, especially when it comes to players.
He did so only on rare occasions during his first season in ’23, when the Sox were one of the worst teams in baseball. Grifol might change after the educational campaign that was 2023, but he won’t when it comes to talking about his players, he said.
“I’m never going to talk about our team in a negative way,” Grifol said. “It’s not who I am; it’s not what I believe. It doesn’t mean we’re not addressing things. I want to throw it out there and make it clear. Just because I’m not talking about it to the media doesn’t mean it’s not getting addressed.”
Grifol said “difficult conversations” are had with players. Team meetings are held. But those stay in-house.
“I respect them too much,” he said. “It’s a really hard game. They’ve sacrificed a ton to be in this position.
‘‘The last thing I’m going to do is put them in a position of having to answer questions from their families and own kids.”
If that means Grifol taking heat his players should, so be it.
“If it means my [butt] is on the line, it’s on the line,” he said.
Butterflies for opener vs. Cubs
Jesse Chavez is 40 and a veteran of 16 major-league seasons and nine teams. When the right-handed reliever takes the ball first in the Sox’ Cactus League opener against the Cubs in Mesa, he will be anxious.
“It doesn’t matter what type of game it is, no matter the situation, I’m nervous,” Chavez said Thursday. “I hope I get it over with quick because I usually have to go to the bathroom right after because I’m nervous.”
In fact, Chavez said butterflies will be felt before he goes to bed Thursday. And again when he wakes up.
Chavez stands a chance to make a bullpen that has jobs for the taking. He was going to retire after pitching for the Braves last season but was limited to 36 appearances after suffering a microfracture in his left shin when he was hit with a comebacker.
He had a 1.56 ERA.
