Will the Marlins extended Brian Anderson in the near future?

When is the right time for the Miami Marlins to open their wallet and offer their third baseman Brian Anderson a serious contract extension?

This is Brian Anderson’s best season in a Miami Marlins uniform. The third baseman and outfielder leads the team with 20 home runs this season and at times, has been an overlooked cornerstone piece of the franchise as the MLB Draft and the trade deadline have brought in some nice chess pieces for the front office to use as future building blocks.

At some point, a contract extension for Anderson, the team’s third-round draft pick out of Arkansas in 2014, will be discussed. But there is no sense the front office wants to deal with that at the moment. It could be a waiting game.

"“The fact Anderson isn’t arbitration-eligible until 2021, and won’t qualify for free agency until ‘24, decreases the urgency to do a long-term deal right now,” writes Joe Frisaro of MLB.com.“That said, even with four more years of club control, Anderson is a core player who is getting better.”"

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Anderson has been versatile enough to make the transition from third base to the outfield because of changes to the infield. The team purchased the contract of Isan Diaz to play second base while veteran Starlin Castro moved over to the hot corner. The moves have looked good so far.

With Castro a safe bet to leave Miami after this season, Anderson will move back to his original position. What the Marlins do in left or right field next season is anyone’s guess.

"“In my opinion, he is the top candidate the Marlins should look to extend, for several reasons. He’s homegrown (third round pick in 2014), and he has bought in to what the club is building,” Frisaro adds. “He can play third base or right field, or both. If the Marlins offered, say, five years at $50 million, they might be able to get a deal done.”"

I still don’t see anything happening any time soon. Plus, the front office could add veterans around him in the batting order who will cost the team financially. Keeping Anderson around and dealing with a contract extension at the point it is needed might be better off for the organization.