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Tim Anderson 2019 Outlook: Modest Floor, Impressive Ceiling
6 years agoMembers of the Tim Anderson fan club include a few fantasy experts looking for cheap sleeper options, Anderson’s parents, and fantasy managers who have owned Tim Anderson before. It’s not a long list. Anderson hit 20 home runs and stole 26 bags in 2018. Unfortunately, he also generated only 77 runs, 64 RBI, and a .240 BA. Unfortunately, that batting average was more palatable than his .281 OBP, which rendered him almost unrosterable in OBP leagues. The good news was that Anderson’s BABIP was well below his career average, and it’s likely that his batting average will rebound to something close to .260. The bad news is that he has consistently overachieved his batted ball profile, which isn’t very good to begin with (.270 xwOBA for the last two years). Given Anderson’s speed, that’s not shocking, but it doesn’t inspire any reason to expect dramatic growth. Expect another 20-20 season where his real value is tied to team success or his ability to cut down on pitches out of the zone. If the White Sox offense improves and Anderson’s R+RBI total could reach 175, he turns into a top-50 player. If the White Sox offense remains as inept as it was last year, Anderson should still manage to approximate his 2018 season.
