Pedro Grifol evaluates Tim Anderson being DFA by Marlins: ‘I believe in Tim’

Pedro Grifol evaluates Tim Anderson being DFA by Marlins: ‘I believe in Tim’ originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago

The Marlins have designated Tim Anderson for assignmentCraig Mish of the Miami Herald reported Tuesday. Anderson will be removed from the 40-man roster immediately.

Miami is Anderson’s first stop since White socks refused to take up the club option last summer. Before Tuesday’s game between the White Sox and Guardians, Pedro Grifol — who coached Anderson last season — expressed his belief in Anderson’s ability to play in the major leagues.

“This is a very difficult game. It’s a shame this happened to Tim,” Grifol said. “However, I’ll tell you one thing; I believe in Tim. I’ve had a lot of conversations with him. I know what’s in his heart. I know the kind of talent he has. He’s been through tough times, but I believe in the player, I believe in the boy, I believe in heart, I believe in talent.

“I hope he has the opportunity to come back and continue to play the game that I know he truly loves. It was a little shocking to me. He was one of the best players in baseball, or best player in baseball just a few years ago, I just I don’t think you lose control like that. I wish him the best, I believe in him, in what he’s capable of doing and what he’s still capable of doing.

Anderson signed a one-year contract with the Marlins last offseason worth $5 million. Unfortunately, through 65 games, Anderson is not having a strong season.

Anderson has struggled during the first half of the season, both with the bat and the glove. Anderson is slashing .214/.237/.226 with 68 strikeouts and just seven walks. He stole four bases, but was also caught stealing four times. Anderson has no home runs and nine RBI.

On the field, Anderson committed nine errors with a .963 fielding percentage. The nine errors are fifth most among NL shortstops.

Anderson’s career decline took a sharp nosedive as Anderon finished his 2022 season with a .301 batting average while also earning the second All-Star nod of his career. It’s strange to know that Anderson was an elite player two years ago, but now he’s fighting to stay on an MLB roster.

The White Sox drafted Anderson in the first round of the 2013 draft and he made his major league debut in June 2016. It didn’t take him long to become the best hitter in baseball. In 2019, Anderson won the MLB batting title with a .335 average. This began four consecutive seasons of hitting over .300, a Silver Slugger award in 2020 and two All-Star nods in 2021 and 2022.

Anderson struggled in 2023, along with the rest of the White Sox, and when the team began its rebuild, the White Sox declined the club option on his contract. However, Anderson made it clear that there was no bad blood between him and the organization.

“That was something we agreed on,” Anderson told NBC Chicago in April when the Marlins visited Chicago to play the Cubs. “We thought it was time. And both ends [were] cool about that. No one was mad about it. We understood that and we understood it was time.”

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