Tim Anderson came back to Rate Field on Thursday night and got the kind of welcome that can stop a player in his tracks.
Before the White Sox faced the Tigers, the organization honored Anderson in a pregame ceremony that left the 33-year-old in tears. The moment hit even harder because of a scoreboard video he helped put together with the White Sox, a personal touch that made the recognition feel especially close to home.
Then Anderson did what Anderson does: he loosened up, got to the third-base camera well, borrowed the lens of White Sox team photographer Darren Georgia and started taking pictures.
That mix of sentiment and ease fit the day. Anderson described himself as a family man first, telling MLB.com on Tuesday that he had to delay an interview to run carpool for his kids before meeting his wife, Bria, for lunch.
Even during his playing days, he carried a businessman’s mindset, and that side of him is still front and center now. He has a food truck, and he is working on a clothing line built around his No. 7 jersey.
Baseball, though, is still part of the picture. Anderson said he wants to help move the game forward by creating youth opportunities, something he has talked about with his friend and former Major Leaguer Niko Goodrum. Thursday also suggested he may have another lane to explore: if he wants to be around the action, he already looked comfortable enough in the photo pit.
He didn’t even seem to need a credential.
“Just continue to keep doing work and having an impact in the community and having an impact on the people around me,” said Anderson during a Thursday pregame press conference. “For me, yeah. It's closing the door the way I wanted to and nobody else.
In Other News...
White Sox Lose Veteran Arm As Another Contender Pounces
The White Soxs pitching depth took another hit when the Phillies claimed Jose Urquidy off waivers, removing a veteran arm who had already bounced through two other teams this season. For a club still sorting through its pitching mix, losing a starter with playoff pedigree only underscores how quickly experienced depth can disappear in August.
Urquidys resume still carries weight, especially after his role in Houstons 2022 World Series run, and that is part of what made him appealing to a contender looking for stability. Philadelphia made the move by shifting Caleb Kilian to the 60-day injured list, a reminder of how one roster shuffle for a contender can leave the White Sox watching another useful piece land elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox May Have One Last Infield Gamble For More Offense
The White Sox are still sorting through ways to patch an offense that has lagged and a roster that could use another layer of depth, and Oswaldo Cabrera has emerged as a possible fit. Recently designated for assignment by the Yankees, Cabrera would bring major league experience and the kind of defensive versatility clubs value when they are trying to cover multiple infield spots without getting thin elsewhere.
For Chicago, the appeal is obvious enough: he is a switch-hitting infielder who could help stabilize the bench while giving the lineup another bat to try. The timing complicates the picture, though, because the August 31 postseason eligibility deadline has already passed, which means any addition would be about the stretch run and not a playoff roster if the White Sox make a late push. [Read more 🡒]
White Sox Make A Surprising Lineup Call With Montgomery Out
With Colson Montgomery sidelined by a wrist contusion, the White Sox are making a noticeable adjustment as they open a four-game set against the Tigers at Rate Field. Chicago is leaning into a righty-heavy lineup against left-handed starter Framber Valdez, a choice that stands out on a night when the club is also trying to keep pace while navigating a few moving parts in the order.
The matchup adds another layer of intrigue because both starting pitchers have been trending well, with Erick Fedde getting the call for Chicago and Valdez drawing the assignment for Detroit. The White Sox have some recent production to weigh along with the injury news, but the larger question is how this lineup construction plays out against a quality left-hander in a series that could shape the tone of the week. [Read more 🡒]