Chicago White Sox Rumors: All-Star Becoming Trade Candidate


The Chicago White Sox are far from out of the playoff fight. In the weakest division in baseball, the American League Central, anything can happen. 

But regardless of their 7-3 mark in their last 10 games, and sitting just 5.5 games back of the first-place Twins despite a 21-30 record, the White Sox seem poised to be sellers at the trade deadline. That's according to MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal. 

And the biggest prize they'll be offering on the trade market is two-time All-Star Tim Anderson.

"Anderson could use a change, it would be beneficial to him. We saw in the World Baseball Classic the impact he can make. He looks like a (Los Angeles) Dodger to me," said Rosenthal. The Dodgers have still yet to plug their hole at short since the departures of Trea Turner and, before him, Corey Seager.

This isn't the first time observers have linked Anderson to L.A.

The soon-to-be 30-year-old Anderson has one more year of club control on his contract ($14M club option) before he can become a free agent. So any receiving team still gets another full season out of the impact veteran in addition to this year. 

Anderson is scuffling this season, partly due to injuries, hitting far below his lifetime .286 mark, at .244. But he's hit over .300 in each of the previous four seasons, provides some power, some speed, and a whole lot of leadership. 

Would the Pale Hose be crazy to give up their leadoff hitter? Rosenthal figures they have to make a move. 

"What are the White Sox doing?" asks Rosenthal, rhetorically. "I thought at the beginning of the season, 'Hey, La Russa's gone, Pedro Grifol is in, camp is happy, spring training, everybody's great! We'll see.' Well, we've seen. Not good. They're going to make some moves, there's no question about that."

Photo: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK