A year ago at this time, Miguel Andujar was the clear-cut favorite to open the season at third base for the Yankees. Had it not been for an out-of-this-world two-way showing from the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani in 2018, Andujar would have entered the season fresh off AL Rookie of the Year honors. Andujar fell short to Ohtani, though, and then endured a year to forget in the second season of his career.
Shoulder problems limited Andujar to just 12 games in 2019, but the Yankees had no trouble carrying on without him, evidenced by their 103-59 record and their first AL East title since 2012. One reason the Yankees finally regained control of the division? Gio Urshela, who grabbed the reins at third base as a result of Andujar’s health woes and became one of the injury-riddled Yankees’ most valuable players. It was a shocking rise for Urshela, who had never been known for his offense in prior major league stints with the Indians (2015, 2017) and Blue Jays (2018).
Before last year, Urshela had not hit more than 15 home runs in a professional season, yet he managed to mash 21 in the majors in 2019. That career-high HR total helped Urshela to an outstanding .314/.355/.534 line with 3.1 fWAR and a personal-best hard-hit rate in 476 plate appearances.
Urshela’s track record of success isn’t long, but the World Series hopeful Yankees are believers. General manager Brian Cashman has made it known that Urshela’s the front-runner to open the upcoming campaign at the hot corner for New York. So, despite his impressive performance as a rookie, Andujar’s behind on the Yankees’ depth chart. They’re even giving the soon-to-be 25-year-old work at first base and in the outfield early this spring in an effort to keep his bat in the lineup, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Andujar may be hard-pressed to struggle more at first or in the outfield than he has at third, where he accounted for minus-25 Defensive Runs Saved and a minus-16 Ultimate Zone Rating in his first season. But make no mistake, Andujar can hit. In his first season in the majors, he piled up 606 trips to the plate and batted .297/.328/.527 with 76 extra-base hits (47 doubles, 27 homers, two triples).
Considering his offensive upside, Andujar may well return to his past role as the Yankees’ primary third baseman sometime this year. Urshela, 28, will have to relinquish the job first, though. Which of the two do you think will log more time at the hot corner for the Yankees in 2020?
(Poll link for app users)
I have a feeling Urshela’s offense wont be at the same level as it was last season. That said, I’m not sure how patient they are gonna be his with offense as well as how patient they will be with Andujar’s defense. I said that Andujar will log more playing time, but it could be the case that Andujar is primarily DH, no matter how Urshela does.
Begamin- Your theory isn’t a bad one. But there is one problem with it. Andujar is young and the only way he gets better at third is through reps. Also, his bat is too good to keep out of the lineup. And Stanton will have to see a lot of time at DH with Judge in right and the preferred defensive options in hicks, gardner and Tauchman rounding out outfield play.
Oh, Im with you. Im a huge Andujar fan, been watching him live since he played on the Tampa Yankees (now named Tampa Tarpons). Imo, defense is so overrated by most people here. A years worth of good offense and sub par defense beats great defense and sub-par offense every time. People make it out to be that Andujar cost the Yankees a dozen games but he probably only cost them one or two, in reality. That said, I cant ignore the possibility that Urshela can get most of the reps. Even though I dont buy into his one year of success after years of being awful at the plate, there is probably a good amount of people on the Yankees staff that believe in him, giving him a decent leash. But if Urshela is able to maintain his production at the plate he will get 3B play and because Andujars bat is too good to be left out, theyll probably stick him at 1B or DH (most likely the latter) and have Stanton in LF
Andujar and Stanton for Arenado and Desmond. You heard it here first. Then it’ll be a Rockies Yankees WS because the Yankees are awesome and Stanton will hit 85 dingers in Colorado.
This is urshelas job to lose, but I see him being an all star next year
With the quality and steadiness of his defense, Urshela hitting .270 with 15 homers this season would be fine. He is the 21st century counterpart to Scott Brosius, a reliable Yankee on winning clubs.
I always thought you never lii I see your job cuz of injury?
That’s football, and huys like Heyward with guaranteed contracts.
Drew Bledsoe says howdy.
Wally Pipp says hi
To be more recent, Brandon Drury says hi.
Arenado will be a Yankee !
Not a bad idea.
Trade Andujar to the Rockies who stick him at 1st. Luis Gil and Miguel Yajure head back to Colorado as well.
Rockies pay $$ if Arrenado opts in.
I’d take Andujar … he has the better track record… yes I know I’m mainly considering minor league numbers in “track record” but those typically translate some with some regression, and if that’s the case, I still think he’s the better player
Anyone who hits like Andujar in 18 (my MVP as I don’t believe those who played professionally in other countries’ top leagues should be eligible) or Urshela will get at bats so there really is nothing to discuss. I’m just not sure if either will hit like their last healthy year. If they both do, Boone and Cashman have a great problem…
*Urshela last season.
Andujar played professional for years in the states before he was called up to the majors
What league? You said States. I’m talking mainly Japan. Ohtani is young but he still in my view was a pro already when he came here. When the Sox signed Dice K years ago, how we he considered a rookie his first season here?
How is a 27 year old considered a rookie after spending 7 seasons in the minors 4 at AAA? How is a 33 year old a rookie after spending 10 years at AAA and gets a call up finally?
Your logic doesn’t make much sense. Regardless where they play rookie status is measured by years/games specially in MLB, which Ohtani and Andujar both had 0.
Andujar spent 6 seasons in the minors. About 3 seasons in AA and a season in AAA. Guaranteed Andujar played against older players in AA and especially AAA much like Ohtani did over seas.
But cause Ohtani pitched in Japan’s highest level that should disqualify him? Japan’s league is comparative to AAA/AAAA league in terms of talent.
Can’t accept him being Roy lmao..deal with it in therapy or something man. He won Roy fair and square.
Therapy? I was just giving an opinion. We value Ichiro’s combined numbers when thinking of his great career so why was he ROTY when he first arrived?
But andujar cant play 3rd base…I dont understand why that gets lost on everyone.
Sure he can – he may not have the best defense, but he can do fine over there.
The problem is that you’re only considering offense and that means you’re really thinking about fantasy baseball instead of mlb baseball.
If Urshela hits he will play, he is far better than Andujar defensively. Andujar is probably better suited for DH duties and maybe some 1B.
Given how Urshela played, it should be his job to lose. He is a better defender and if he can repeat something even close to what he did in 2019 than he is a better option at 3rd for the team. Let Andujar start the season in AAA and see how it goes. Get him some playing time at 1st and in the outfield, let him show that he is healthy and wait for the inevitable injury to call him up. Best case, Urshela shows that 2019 wasn’t a fluke and Andujar returns to his rookie season form and you have a potential trade chip.
If the Yankees are not in the World Series….it is another lost year for New York !
Agreed. Outside of the Astros, I’d take any team in the WS over the Yankees (and the Dodgers). As much as I’d like Boston to surprise, it would be great for the sport (if not for the networks) to have let’s say the Braves and the Angels represent each league.
Boston surprise? They’ve won the WS twice in a decade that the Yanks haven’t even gone. At this point it would be a surprise if the Yanks actually went.
LOL. I just meant this season, they are not looked at as having much of a chance. Of course, 2013 was the same so there is a possibility.
Did they cheat both times or Just the last time?
Yanks used bullpen phone and a CF camera to steal signs. I guess you think Judge should have to give back the ROY for cheating.
So says the fan and supporter of cheaters with no proof. I cannot wait for astros to miss the playoffs hillbilly joe ma. How is your sister/wife btw?
The NYYs were fined by the commish WITHOUT a report or press conference because the Yanks always get special treatment.
Can you send me the back up source you have for this? Are you talking about 2017 when the Red Sox we’re fined and the Yankees were fined for precious use (not 2017) for using the dugout phone?
Jmi- look into this a little more.
JMI – here is the actual statement from the commissioner when this came up in 2017.
In the wake of the Yankees’ complaint to the Commissioner’s Office, the Red Sox brought forward allegations that the Yankees had made improper use of the YES Network in an effort to decipher the Red Sox signs. The Commissioner’s Office also investigated this allegation and the Yankees fully cooperated with the investigation. During that investigation, we found insufficient evidence to support the allegation that the Yankees had made inappropriate use of the YES Network to gain a competitive advantage.
“In the course of our investigation, however, we learned that during an earlier championship season (prior to 2017) the Yankees had violated a rule governing the use of the dugout phone. No Club complained about the conduct in question at the time and, without prompting from another Club or my Office, the Yankees halted the conduct in question. Moreover, the substance of the communications that took place on the dugout phone was not a violation of any Rule or Regulation in and of itself. Rather, the violation occurred because the dugout phone technically cannot be used for such a communication.”
I kinda want Astros to make it most. Would be hilarious and shut up a lot of the whiners. That said, most TV execs are salivating over a yankee-dodger WS.
the astros cheated, stop defending them it’s a bad look.
The flip side of that coin is they fail to make the playoffs and nobody ever respects any of them again
Joe Girardi said the Yankees were cheating too. So Astros fans could say stop defending them. It’s a bad look. Let’s just all agree everyone was cheating and move on.
Beat the Astros this year. That will be a lot more fun than fixating on them.
Show me where Girardi says Yanks were cheating. No, everyone was not cheating. That’s why so many players are upset.
The yanks were fined by the commish for using a YES camera in CF and the bullpen phone to steal signs.
Mo… I think you already know where I’m getting that from. Ha! The whole thing is all over Twitter, but here’s one straight to the point.
twitter.com/AstrosOptimism2/status/123021570163965…
You’re right that not everyone was doing it. That’s an overstatement on my part. But come on man 🙂 You have to admit the Astros weren’t the only ones. They might have been the worst ones, but they weren’t the only ones. Here’s a quick timeline of everything leading up to where we are today.
astroscounty.com/p/sign-stealing-astros-timeline.h…
Um no – he said no chance. They were fined for using a dugout phone to check on balls and strikes. Much, much different. And in 2018+ there was a specific rule addressing sign stealing with technology.
Just do some research on This.
No JMI. They were not.
Interesting. I hadn’t heard it was just about balls and strikes. Can someone point me towards where you heard that? The stuff I read just says something like they were illegally using a dugout phone in a previous season.
Definitely would be different than sign stealing/electronic deciphering if that’s really the case.
I am sorry, but if anyone is stupid enough to believe that NY was illegally using the bullpen phone to confirm if pitches were balls or strikes but not also relaying the signs so be it. I tend to believe if you are breaking the rules by using the phone then you are doing it to gain an unfair advantage.
As for the YES camera, it was illegally trained on the Red Sox dugout and followed the bench coach as he gave signs. in Sept 2017. It was note worthy that YES never aired any of that footage. They used a different camera to show the Sox dugout.
Yeah you right… I still haven’t seen anywhere that says it was just to confirm balls and strikes.
And Joe is now backtracking on his slip of the tongue saying he was talking about catching another team. I guess when he says, “I was part of a system” what he meant was “the other team had a system.”
In medicine, what Joe did is called Freudian slip. In the law, it is called guilty knowledge.
You guys think Stanton will spend a lot of time in the outfield if healthy?
Depends. If both Urshela and Anduhar hit and deserve playing time, that would be the most obvious way to do it.
I don’t thinks it’s fair to expect the same offensive explosion from Gio. But with that offense, he doesn’t have to. Just be solid defensively and not a liability at plate.
With Hicks likely out for most of the season Stanton could see a fair amount of time in the grass. Frazier and Tauchman have very little in the way of track records to believe they will perform the same next season.
I think andujar is a ranger by trade deadline
Justin Turner to the Yankees for Tauchman and Cessa
I love all three players but why would the dodgers do that ?!?
Turner is an aging salary dump – move allows Dodgers to pursue Arenado or Bryant with prospects, Pedersen, Stripling and other players as bait
So the Dodgers will trade an above average infielder for an outfielder when they already are trying to trade an outfielder because they have too many and also for a long reliever?
Oh wow…horrible
lol
@OCTraveler
Why would the Yanks trade for a 35 yo 3b when the issue they have is trying to find room for their 2 much younger third basemen? And why would they trade Tauchman when they have less depth with Hicks likely out for the season and Stanton being of some concern playing in the OF? It doesn’t fix any problems for the Yanks at all.
His career high I the majors was 6 home runs in a single season. 18 in the minors.
Since when was an extended stay on the DL an “out of this world” showing from Ohtani ? If Andujar was on any other team but the Yankees, he’s the ROY. He (and Matsui before him) got jobbed for the ROY…
He didnt get robbed in my opinion. Andujar and ohtani were roughly equal offensively if you look at ops and ops+. Couple that with andujar costing the yankees dozens of runs defensively and ohtani throwing about 50 innings of 3 run ball it’s easy to see who the better player was. Matsui lost out on 2003 to berrora of the royals because a few writers didnt consider Matsui a rookie because of his long playing career in Japan…that you have an argument for
Ichiro won ROY in 2001. He also had a lengthy career in Japan before he came to the majors. Matsui got robbed.
Well, considering the small market Andujar plays in, he’s lucky to have come in 2nd. Maybe he will get traded to the Marlins, where every player is a household name. Then he will get the recognition he deserves.
Andujar is not a 3rd baseman. Just because he can stand there doesn’t make him capable of playing the position. Hes no more a 3rd baseman than nicholas Castellanos
Andujar = Edwin Encarnarcion He was also a 3b whose “D” was bad.
Andujar is the better hitter,Urshela a much better fielder. Urshela is the better all around player. Andujar will get plenty of ABs,just not as the 3Bman.
Why is Connor Byrne saying Andujar’s rear end is on the Yankees depth chart?
He didn’t. If that’s how you read that sentence, maybe you’re just obsessed with men’s butts?
I met with Jomboy tonight, and this came up at his broadcast from Tampa. Gio is a lock.
You just can’t have Andujar at 3B; he’s awful. Catches the ball but has a horrid transfer and poor sidearm throws, often into the runner. Urshela is a great defender and will survive a dip in offense because the NYY pitchers need his glove.
I know Yankees fans love him but… Andujar was legendarily bad on defense in 2018. There’s no real reason why the Yankees should give him much time there at all.
GIO URSHELA! WHAT A HAPPY FELLA!
Yankee stadium is a hitters park with a very short RF fence.
Most hitters numbers go way up at Yankee stadium especially if that is their home park.
Granderson’s power numbers jumped substantially at Yankee stadium.
And, Yankees always have a loaded lineup with no easy outs…put an above average hitter in the middle of that lineup and he will see a lot of fastballs and pitches to hit.
In a perfect world, Andujar settles into a 3B/DH role (mostly 3B), while Urshela splits time between 3B and 1B.
They’re both far from free agency, so it would make sense for the Yankees to show a lot of patience, and play them in these roles for most of the year. Especially since there’s room for error, because the division isn’t much of a contest.
Of course, it all depends on Andujar’s progress at 3B. If he doesn’t improve compared to 2018, it’s gonna have to be the other way around: Urshela the starting third baseman, and Andujar splitting time between 3B (presumably when Cole is starting, because even I could defense a strikeout), 1B and DH.
There’s supposedly some experimentation going on with Andujar in left field, but that’s probably just so he’d be available as an emergency option. I can’t imagine the Yankees wasting too much of his time teaching him to play the outfield. There are other things he needs to focus on.
Actually, maybe a little backwards. Urshela at 3b, with Andujar having splits between 3b/DH/1b/LF.
Prior to spring training Andujar has been working out at left and 1st. so, yeah, they are investing valuable time to assure he can do that.
Andujar can’t be put at 3rd and should play first if he stays but I think they’ll flip Andujar, Gio, Frazier, Happ and prospects for Arenado or Lindor.
Cleveland is not trading Lindor for two Dhs, one who is a head case, and an overpaid pitcher in Happ. You are dreaming if you think that gets Lindor.
Ah, I love the old “quantity for quality” trade proposals
Urshela at 3b. Use Andujar at 1b or DH or trade him to a team needing a DH. The bat is great, but when you make Castellanos look like a good fielder by comparison, you shouldn’t be at that position.
I think Miggy will share the DH role with Stanton, and share third with Gio. Those 2 roles will give him plenty of at bats.
Braves will gladly take Andujar off the Yankees hands… apparently that’s what y’all want
I still think the Yankees should package Andujar and others for Hader. Andujar is great but Yankees have plenty of corner outfielders already.
That would actually be a good move for the Yankees. Problem is the NL doesn’t have a DH and the Brewers already have Braun at 1B, so I don’t really see a great fit. Maybe he’s an upgrade over Avisail Garcia in RF, but the Brewers just overpaid to get him, so I think they’d want a package built around someone else. They won’t trade their star closer for a marginal upgrade on offense and a clear downgrade on defense.
There’s no point in selling low on Anduljar. The Yankees can stash him in AAA for repetition if needed and they aren’t desperate for a reliever. I don’t see a fit for a trade here.
What are the Braves offering? Make an offer
Don’t think the Braves would offer. If they were to move Acuna to CF, Andujar *might* be an upgrade in RF, but they have some strong OF prospects and don’t need Andujar there. They seem to believe they have their 3B answer in-hosue as they didn’t go after JD and don’t seem to be actively pursuing KB, who’s a better fit for them. And they have Freeman at 1b. Believe it or not, the trade has to make sense for both teams, not just provide the Yankees with something they want.
Theres no way they trade Andujar as you have 2 potential flash in the pan busts in Gio and Tauchman. My bet is Tauchman is in the minors or DFA’d by midseason.
Why have so many players revived their careers in NY?? Steroid City baby ! MLB prob catches 1% or less of cheating in baseball but does a fantastic job controlling the media coverage on it
I hate the Yankees, but I would have a hard time believing they’re all cheating and nobody else is now. Maybe they just have better hitting coaches and a better training staff. They can certainly afford the best. Some guys may be juicing, but I don’t think it’s a Yankees-specific problem.
Everyone else is cheating too. How does the angel kid never fail a drug test before over dosing on the road ? And look at Boston and Houston. There’s no integrity in baseball. Only a mirage
How do yanks fan ignore that there was a fine for stealing signs using a YES camera in CF and the bullpen phone??
A lot of them honestly don’t know because that’s not what the crowd wanted the narrative to be so they’ve never heard about it. Those that do know about it just turn away and beat on the Houston Scapegoats and their fans a little more. Truth is tricky these days.
As far as baseball, it will all get settled in the W-L records this year. Going to be an intense season.
JMI – again man, where do you see that? Here is the actual language from the commissioner at the time. I guess the question is, how do you ignore it?
In the wake of the Yankees’ complaint to the Commissioner’s Office, the Red Sox brought forward allegations that the Yankees had made improper use of the YES Network in an effort to decipher the Red Sox signs. The Commissioner’s Office also investigated this allegation and the Yankees fully cooperated with the investigation. During that investigation, we found insufficient evidence to support the allegation that the Yankees had made inappropriate use of the YES Network to gain a competitive advantage.
“In the course of our investigation, however, we learned that during an earlier championship season (prior to 2017) the Yankees had violated a rule governing the use of the dugout phone. No Club complained about the conduct in question at the time and, without prompting from another Club or my Office, the Yankees halted the conduct in question. Moreover, the substance of the communications that took place on the dugout phone was not a violation of any Rule or Regulation in and of itself. Rather, the violation occurred because the dugout phone technically cannot be used for such a communication.
Why illegally use the bullpen phone if not to cheat?
Why illegally train a camera on the other team’s bench coach if not to cheat?
I do find it funny that we have damaged a persons career with one year worth of MLB experience at a position. Defense can improve, just like offense can improve. with that being said, Andujar seems like a great fit for LF when Stanton needs a break or DH, 3b when Urshella needs a break, and the ever cycling of players at 1st.