Marlins designate veteran infielder for assignment

Tim Anderson.

The Marlins have designated infielder Tim Anderson for assignment, reports Craig Mish of SportsGrid and the Miami Herald. Xavier Edwards will be recalled to take Anderson’s spot on the roster, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Anderson, 31, was Miami’s lone major-league signing in free agency this past offseason. He inked a one-year, $5M contract on the heels of what was then 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 envisioned a rebound of some extent — if not to the outstanding .318/.347/.473 slash he posted in 2019-22, then at least to the point where he’d reclaim his status as a viable regular in a big league infield.

Instead, Anderson’s production has dipped even further. He’s posted career-worst marks in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and strikeout rate — all while delivering the second-worst walk rate of his career. In 241 plate appearances, Anderson is batting .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’ve tallied at least 200 plate appearances, none has a lower wRC+ than Anderson’s mark of 31 (which indicates he’s been 69% worse than league-average at the plate).

While the Marlins technically have as many as five days to trade Anderson, the overwhelming likelihood is that he’ll simply be released. A team isn’t going to claim the remainder of this season’s salary if he’s placed on waivers, and that contract plus Anderson’s play over the past two seasons renders him without any trade value. Once he’s cleared release waivers, he’ll be free to sign with any club on a minor league or big league deal. A new team would owe Anderson only the prorated league minimum for any days spent on the MLB roster or injured list. That sum would be subtracted from what Miami is required to pay out, but the Fish are on the hook for the majority of his salary regardless.

Edwards, another former Rays prospect, has spent the bulk of the season in Triple-A Jacksonville and is hitting .330/.376/.450 in 119 trips to the plate. It’s a small sample that’s buoyed by a huge .361 average on balls in play, but Edwards is making tons of contact (9.2% strikeout rate). His bat-to-ball skills and speed have long been his calling cards.

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