Reds better hope banged-up Wild Card rival takes chance on Tim Anderson instead

The Miami Marlins, the worst team in the National League for all of 2024, have designated Tim Anderson for assignment.

The Fish made the move on July 2, hours before their matchup with the recently hot Red Sox. Miami signed the veteran shortstop Anderson on a one-year deal after the start of spring training, and neither party's season has gone well. The Cincinnati Reds should take note.

The Reds, currently involved in the technicalities of the Wild Card mix, sit in a crowded pack of near-contenders, just below .500. They would need an offensive boost to make a convincing playoff push, and adding to the infield would be a logical solution with a few Cincinnati infielders on the injured list.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Matt McLain are both sidelined long-term and leave the Reds' infield bench a bit thin. But they should not be tempted by Anderson when he hits waivers.

The nine-year MLB veteran slashed .214/.237/.226 in 65 games with the Marlins. He struck out 68 times in his short tenure with Miami and he carries the worst batting run value, expected slugging percentage and walk rate in the league, according to Baseball Savant.

The banged-up San Francisco Giants are a game and a half ahead of the Reds in the NL Wild Card race. MLB insider Jim Bowden recently reported that the Giants would benefit from a long-term solution at shortstop — and though Anderson's rough offense would only be another patchwork attempt at a quick fix, Reds fans can dream.

The Reds and other NL wild card contenders may benefit if the Giants add recently-DFA'd Tim Anderson

San Francisco has played veteran Nick Ahmed, along with young infielders Brett Wisely and Tyler Fitzgerald, at shortstop in recent weeks. Ahmed has gotten most of the reps, as Wisely also plays second base. Ahmed, midway through a one-year contract with the Giants, has also seen his name surface in trade rumors for other squads in need of a shortstop.

Anderson would offer the desperate Giants a shot at a former batting champ at his lowest point, but very little else. Since Anderson couldn't stick it out with the league's worst club, there's little reason to believe San Francisco would thrive with the infielder, but still ... there might be one club in this Wild Card mix fooled by the possibility of the ultimate reclamation project.

It had better not be the Reds, though. Even in a depth role after Noelvi Marte's return from suspension. Let the Giants take a chance instead.

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