The plethora of moves continue for the free-falling Chicago White Sox. In the same week that the team sent veteran starter Mat Latos packing and signed former MVP Justin Morneau, Chicago has made yet another somewhat major move.
Prior to today’s game, the #WhiteSox designated shortstop Jimmy Rollins for assignment and purchased the contract of shortstop Tim Anderson.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 10, 2016
Rollins, 37, struggled a great deal in his first season in Chicago, hitting at a .221 clip with a sub .300 on-base percentage.
It’s not every day that a starting shortstop on a contending teams finds himself designated for assignment.
That’s only magnified when we look at Rollins’ body of work. The 17-year veteran has earned three All-Star appearances, four Gold Glove awards and one MVP during his stellar career.
However, Rollins’ age has caught up with him in recent seasons. He hit just .224 with a .285 on-base percentage with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season.
In reality, Rollins hasn’t been an above-WAR offensive player since all the way back with the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2012. That coupled with regression on defense led to this move.
Replacing Rollins as Chicago’s everyday shortstop, the team called up top prospect Tim Anderson from the minors.
A first-round pick of the Sox back in 2012, the 22-year-old Anderson was hitting .304 with four homers and 20 RBI in Triple-A Charlotte before being called up on Friday.