GLENDALE, ARIZONA – MARCH 08: Tim Anderson #7 of the Chicago White Sox looks on against the Kansas City Royals on March 8, 2020 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale Arizona. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox slugger Tim Anderson thinks the White Sox are among the best teams in baseball.
Anderson is just one of the young stars on the South Side of Chicago. The White Sox are fresh off a playoff appearance, in which they lost in three games to the Oakland Athletics. While much from last year’s shortened campaign can be chalked up as a fluke, Anderson and the Sox are determined to prove their status as a contender is real.
General manager Rick Hahn made several key additions this offseason, including trading for Lance Lynn and signing Liam Hendriks and Adam Eaton. Chicago has done more than any other AL Central team to improve this Winter, and because of that they’re expected to either win the division or push the Minnesota Twins to the brink.
Tim Anderson has a message for the rest of baseball
“F*** it, we’re the best team in the American League,” Anderson said on 670 The Score in Chicago.
Anderson also discussed his relationship with new manager Tony La Russa, which is also a major talking point for this new-look White Sox team heading into a new season. As seasoned and capable as La Russa is, he’s 76 years old and expected to lead one of the youngest teams in baseball. He’ll have to connect with them, on some level.
The Yankees, Rays, Astros and Twins at the very least stand in the way of Anderson’s dream becoming reality. Anderson’s bold statement reeks of a declaration that eventually becomes a ‘freezing cold take’, but who are we to judge?
Anderson finished seventh in MVP voting just last season, batting .322 with 10 home runs and 21 RBIs. He’s the most outspoken member of this White Sox team, and he’s earned that right atop the lineup.