In a surprising move, the Miami Marlins announced on Tuesday that they have designated shortstop Tim Anderson for assignment. To fill the void, the Marlins have recalled infielder Xavier Edwards from Triple-A Jacksonville.

Anderson, who joined the Marlins on a one-year, $5-million contract in February, had high hopes for a bounce-back season. However, he has struggled tremendously at the plate, becoming one of the worst hitters in baseball. He currently holds a batting line of .214/.237/.226 with no home runs, nine RBIs, and a staggering 68 strikeouts over 65 games (30 OPS+).

Despite his offensive struggles, Anderson had remained the Marlins' primary shortstop in recent weeks, starting in five of the team's last seven games. This decision marks a stunning fall for the two-time All-Star, who made a name for himself during his time with the Chicago White Sox.

During his tenure with the White Sox, Anderson achieved remarkable success, winning an AL batting title in 2019 and a Silver Slugger award in 2020. He also provided fans with memorable moments, such as his walk-off home run into a cornfield during the 2021 Field of Dreams game in Iowa.

However, signs of decline started to emerge in 2022 when Anderson's playing time was limited due to injury. In his final year with the White Sox in 2023, Anderson posted a career-worst .582 OPS with just one home run in 123 games. The White Sox chose not to re-sign him during the last offseason.

Xavier Edwards, the Marlins' replacement for Anderson, has been making waves in Triple-A Jacksonville. The 24-year-old has been batting an impressive .330/.376/.450 with one home run, six RBIs, and five stolen bases over 26 games this season. Edwards previously started three games at shortstop while Anderson was on the bereavement list.

Other potential candidates to take over the shortstop position going forward include utility player Vidal Bruján, who has made 19 appearances at shortstop this season, and Otto Lopez, the Marlins' primary second baseman who also has considerable experience playing shortstop in the minors.

The move by the Marlins reflects their determination to address the struggles of their offense, which currently ranks as the worst in the National League. Only time will tell if the decision to designate Tim Anderson for assignment and recall Xavier Edwards will help revitalize the team's performance.

Overall, it's a disappointing turn of events for Tim Anderson, who went from being an All-Star just two years ago to being DFA'd by a struggling lineup. The rapid decline in his performance is certainly concerning, and it remains to be seen what the future holds for the once-promising shortstop.