Longtime Dodgers Target Shockingly DFA’d: Should LA Acquire Him?
The Miami Marlins designated an offseason acquisition for assignment for the second time in two weeks. The latter happened to be a longtime Los Angeles Dodgers’ trade target.
Tim Anderson was Miami’s only major league free agent signing this offseason. He didn’t have the type of first half the team hoped for. In 65 games, he posted a 30 OPS+, and his -1.2 FanGraphs WAR ranked last among 27 MLB shortstops with at least 240 plate appearances.
“It’s never an easy day when you have to DFA one of your everyday players,” Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “Tim was awesome in the clubhouse. I didn’t know him before this year. I knew of him as a player, obviously, but not as a person, and he was one of the harder workers I’ve ever been around. Always here early, infield work, doing his hitting routine, trying to figure out how to get back to where he was in 2021-2022, and that’s the toughest part when the guys put in so much work and there was just no production, nothing to show for it.”
The 31-year-old has been a target of the Dodgers for a long time, and could make sense as a fit since Mookie Betts fractured his hand and was sent to the injured list. However, Los Angeles has found its interim shortstop with Miguel Rojas and it’s hard to imagine Los Angeles acquiring someone to play instead.
Entering Friday’s series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, Rojas is batting .290 with 21 runs scored, three homers, 19 RBIs, and three stolen bases. Anderson was hitting .214 with 16 runs scored, no home runs, nine RBIs, and four stolen bases. Anderson also has 234 at-bats compared to Rojas’ 156.
While Anderson historically has been a solid player — a two-time All-Star, Silver Slugger, and batting champion — there is something to be said for the chemistry on the field and in the clubhouse. Rojas has earned his moment and hasn’t done anything to lose his spot. He has played so well that conversations are happening about moving Betts to second when he is activated from the IL.
Anderson won’t be a free agent for long but wearing Dodger blue shouldn’t be in his immediate future.
Photo Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports
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Once again losing a series to sub .500 team because of being out-coached and out- played. It doesn’t matter how much money you spend, but if you keep serving up home runs, and having no command of your pitches and having brain lapses on defense you’ll keep losing to these teams that can do it.
On offense it’s striking out too many times and not driving in the run, or to create a scoring run. Sometimes small ball helps when facing a dominant pitcher in scoring a run or to upset his rhythm.
Agreed. FFS, LAD has scored 42 runs in its last 7 games, back to the start of the SFG series. However, they gave up 53 runs in those games. Last 2 games vs AZD, they were outscored 21 – 7 and scored their only 4 runs in game 2 of series in the first inning, then went scoreless for 11 innings before scoring their only 3 in the series finale. That’s pathetic by any standard, but off the charts with this roster. They are just hard to watch and if you’re like me and think the playoffs are what really matters, this type of repeated failures or inability to manufacture runs is going to be a serious problem come October.
no
People are assuming Tim Anderson would take over shortstop if he joined the Dodgers and comparing him to Rojas, saying Rojas is performing better. While Rojas is indeed playing well, he’s 35 and needs rest days. Instead of relying on Cavin Biggio or Kike, why not add a stronger depth piece? My suggestion is to designate Biggio for assignment and give Anderson a chance from the bench for a few weeks. Once Muncy and Mookie return, we can reevaluate. It seems obvious to give Anderson a shot as a backup at SS/2B.
Our offense has been inconsistent all season. We don’t get hits with runners in scoring position. With the exception of Colorado this year, we have a losing record in our division. The bottom of our lineup are all hitting around 200. We need more production for our outfield with the exception of Teoscar. We now have a 61/2 game lead in the division. We now play Milwaukee and then Philadelphia. I realize we have been hit hard with injuries, but getting mauled by Arizona the last 2 nights was pathetic. Today, we do not look like a world series team. I hope that changes or it will be another early exit from the playoffs. It’s never easy being a dodgers fan.
The Dodgers are lacking focus, energy, getting out-hustled, and totally embarrassed by a team that knows how to play winning baseball.
SIGN TIM ANDERSON!! He is better than anyone the Dodgers can put on the field (at the moment)!!
Not the way Rojas is playing. I am a marlin fan. Tim Anderson is a cancer on a team.
Hey HH, I totally agree.
Paul, What are you thinking…Anderson over Rojas???
OPS+ 2020 140; 2021 118; 2022 109; 2023 62; 2024 50. Not a good trend line. Heading toward 0 OPS+
Sign Tim Anderson! He can’t hit! Perfect fit for the Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s so easy to get down on the Ds because they have had a mediocre run for a while. Lighten up, people. If you have followed the Ds for years you know that it is quite common for them to have down periods – the term “June Swoon” applies to them more than any other team (as far as my limited knowledge). Then they tear it up in August, have a down period in September. In spite of that, they have the highest winning percentage over any 6-year period of any team in MLB history, including the uber dominant Yankees of the 20s and 50s. They haven’t been hitting well lately – with two of their power bats on the IL. Pitching has carried the team all year, and is failing now, but that goes up and down as well
As far as shortstop, people think that Miggy Ro is just overperforming now. But he is a career .259 BA, .669 OPS batter, with 5 seasons over .280 BA. We are lucky to have him at short, we should keep him there, and forget about trading for a SS. We need an outfielder, possibly another lights-out reliever. Otherwise we are fine.
DAVE ROBERTS, IN TODAY’S GAME V MILWAUKEE. MADE EXACTLY THE SAME ERROR MOVE HE MADE IN THE 2017 WORLD SERIES V HOUSTON, WHEN HE TOOK DODGER CLOSER KENLEY JANSEN OUT OF HIS 9TH INNING “CLOSER ROUTINE,” AND BROUGHT HIM IN TO PITCH THE EIGHTH & NINETH INNINGS WITH THE DODGERS AHEAD. ROBERTS’ PANICKED THEN BECAUSE HE HAD NO CLUE HOW TO HANDLE PITCHERS, & HE STILL HAS NO CLUE, RE THAT & STRATEGIC EXPERIENCE. HE DEINITELY HAS NO FEEL FOR PITCHERS’ ROUTINES; WHAT THEIR JOB REQUIRES, WHETHER IT’S STARTING OR MIDDLE RELIEVING, OR CLOSING OUT GAMES. BECAUSE OF HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, STRATEGIC THINKING, BASED ON YEARS OF LACK OF PLAYING & MANAGING EXPERIENCE, JANSEN GOT HIT UP, THE ASTROS TIED THE GAME, & WON THE 2ND GAME OF THE SERIES TO TIE IT AT 1-1, GOING TO HOUSTON. THE DODGERS LOST THAT (2017) SERIES 4-3 BECAUSE OF ROBERTS STUPID MOVE WHEN HE PANICKED AND TOOK JANSEN OUT OF HIS 9TH INNING LOSER ZONE, AND PUT JANSEN IN FOR A 2 INNING SAVE!
HE PANICKED AGAIN TODAY V THE BREWERS WHEN HE BROUGHT IN EVAN PHILLIPS IN THE 8TH, ONCE AGAIN TAKING A CLOSER OUT OF HIS ROUTINE, HIS CLOSER MENTALITY, & MILWAUKEE TIED THE GAME, 3-3.
IT’S ROBERTS’ “GUT MOVES” THAT COST LA ONE WORLD SERIES; HE STILL HASN’T LEARNED, AND WILL COST THEM AGAIN WITH HIS BAD BASEBALL MOVES. PAT MURPHY, THE MILWAUKEES MANAGER HAS BEEN COACHING & MANAGING SINCE THE 80’S, IN COLLEGE AND THE PROS, ALSO SERVING AS FORMER BREWER MANAGER, CRAIG COUNSEL’S BENCH COACH. HIS TEAM IS TOUGH, AND MANAGED VERY WELL WITH THE ROSTER HE’S BEEN GIVEN. THEY PLAY HARD,AND YOU CAN SEE THEYRE A SOLID TEAM THAT COMPETES! DAVE ROBERTS HAS BEEN GIVEN A TON OF TALENT BUT HE BASICALLY ROLLS THE BALL OUT & SAYS “GO PLAY!” HE NEVER PLAYS SMALL BALL, NEVER PLAYS HIT AND RUN, HARDLY EVER BUNTS, AND FRANKLY HE’S IN WAY OVER HIS HEAD WITH TALENT LIKE LA HAS! HE SHOULD BE FIRED AFTER THIS YEAR, AND REPLACED WITH A SOLID EXPERIENCED MANAGER SUCH AS TERRY FRANCONA. BRING HIM OUT OF RETIREMENT! HE’S A BRILLIANT MGR. WQE PREDICT, DAVE ROBERTS WILL NOT WIN ANOTHER WORLD SERIES WITH LA!
Tim Anderson batting champion, silver slugger, better than Biggio, Rojas, Lutz , can play SS or 2nd base. Definitely an upgrade!
exciting player in the past, i heard he fell on hard times lately.
bashing dave roberts again? with one of the best winning percentages in baseball history? actually loved by his players? you need to watch more baseball. the 2017 series was decided by the umpires with bad calls and the cheaters banging garbage cans, not dave roberts. and jansen, the one pitch wonder? they didnt need their garbage cans when he’s on the mound.