White Sox decline option of former AL batting champion

The move is unsurprising given Anderson’s nightmare 2023 season. He finished with a .245 batting average and a brutal .296 slugging percentage — the lowest among qualified hitters in the majors.

Anderson tallied 25 RBI and just one home run across 123 games last season. The 30-year-old generated more headlines this season for his fight with Jose Ramirez rather than any on-field accomplishments.

Anderson was named to two All-Star teams and won the batting title in 2019 when he hit .335 with 18 homers. He signed a six-year, $25M contract extension with the White Sox in 2017 that included a team option for the 2024 season.

The White Sox also made a major change in the front office midway through the season. Former executive vice president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn were replaced by new general manager Chris Getz in August after the team’s record fell to 49-77.

The new regime under Getz clearly wants to find its own shortstop of the future.