Free agent infielder/outfielder Miguel Andujar is drawing widespread interest, reports Jon Heyman of The New York Post, with the Rangers, Padres, Cardinals, Reds, Cubs and Athletics listed as some of the clubs in the mix.
Andujar, 31 in March, is coming off his best season in years. He missed a little over a month due to an oblique strain but got into 94 games, split between the A’s and Reds after a deadline trade. He generally puts the ball in play a lot, avoiding both strikeouts and walks, and that continued to be the case last year. In his 341 plate appearances, his 5% walk rate was quite low but he was also only struck out at a 14.4% clip.
He produced a .318/.352/.470 batting line, production which translated to a wRC+ of 125, or 25% better than league average. There was likely a bit of good luck in there, as his .348 batting average on balls in play was quite high, but it would have been a good showing even with neutral luck. He slashed .277/.315/.399 over 2023 and 2024 for a wRC+ of 103, with a decreased .306 BABIP in that stretch.
Andujar hits from the right side and has strong platoon splits. For his career, he has a .297/.332/.475 line and 121 wRC+ against lefties, compared to a .275/.307/.427 line and 101 wRC+ without the platoon advantage. It was even more extreme last year, as Andujar had a .389/.409/.578 line and 171 wRC+ against southpaws. Against righties, he held his own with a .290/.331/.429 line and 108 wRC+.
Defensively, he doesn’t play a premium position but does provide some versatility, as he lined up at the four corner spots last year. He doesn’t get great marks anywhere but the ability to move around is helpful when a club is looking to play matchups.
Andujar can therefore be of theoretical use to any club with a lefty in a corner somewhere. The A’s employed Andujar in 2024 and part of 2025 and could do so again. They have Nick Kurtz at first with the outfield corners manned by Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler. They could potentially be more competitive in 2026 but could also trade Andujar at the deadline again. Last year, they were able to get pitching prospect Kenya Huggins from the Reds.
The Rangers project to have Brandon Nimmo in left. Evan Carter is another lefty, with notable struggles against southpaws, and projects to be the club’s center fielder. There has been some suggestion that Wyatt Langford could take some center field playing time, which could make room for a righty bat in a corner. Joc Pederson projects to be the designated hitter. He is coming off a poor season but has crushed righties and flailed against lefties in his career.
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom recently said the Cards have room for a righty-hitting outfielder. The club projects to have lefty Lars Nootbaar in one corner, with Alec Burleson at first base and Nolan Gorman possibly getting lots of playing time at third. The Cards are rebuilding but Andujar could help the club protect their current players and then perhaps be traded at the deadline, just as he was last year.
The Reds just had Andujar for the final two months of the 2025 season and could once again slot him in. They traded Gavin Lux to the Rays but project to have lefty JJ Bleday in one outfield corner. The Cubs have Michael Busch at first base and Moisés Ballesteros is probably the favorite to take over the designated hitter spot. The Padres project to have some combination of Jake Cronenworth, Sung Mun Song and Gavin Sheets covering first base, second base and designated hitter.
Andujar isn’t likely to command too much on the open market as a short-side platoon player. Guys like Austin Hays and Randal Grichuk are somewhat comparable players who each got one-year, $5MM deals last offseason. Rob Refsnyder just got $6.3MM from the Mariners on a one-year deal last month.
Hays and Grichuk are out there again now, alongside Andujar. Other similar players in this market include Austin Slater, Tommy Pham, Starling Marte and Chas McCormick. There’s also Harrison Bader, though he should be a tier above this group. Since he is a strong defender in center, he is a viable everyday player and may be able to secure himself a two-year deal.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Hanisch, Imagn Images
I’m showing interest in moving closer to Fiona Doirif’s condo.
Hopefully it’s not the Yankees. Easy pass; been there, and done that already.
The Yankees treated him like crap after he should’ve won AL ROY. They have too many DH types anyway
@dirt
How? He missed the entire 2nd year due to injury and struggled the next two years. They have him every opportunity to be their 3b man of the future.
@99
I have a bro- crush on Andujar. If the Yanks had aDH opening I’d love to hand him. He didn’t have a lefty/righty liability and he absolutely crushed lefties to the tune of a .955 OPS last year. If he could play just a decent LF or 1B he would be perfect.
I hope the Reds re-sign him. His swing and GABP are the perfect fit. The Reds still need 2 bats to cover 1B, the OF, and DH. He would take care of the DH spot and can fill in in LF and RF on occasion. 1 YR at 7M or 8M plus incentives?
Agreed, but with some of the clubs stated in the mix, the Reds will be outbid.
There is unlikely to be a bidding war for Miggy. If the Reds want him they can surely have him.
The only club that scares me on this list is the Cubs.
@Reds2024 – the Reds could definitely use Andujar or another righty bat, but I doubt they see 2 slots to fill. Between Stewart, Steer and Marte that’s 3 right-handed bats for 4 spots (COF, 1B, DH). As it stands, they might use Tyler Stephenson at DH against lefty SPs.
I tell you what, of the options out there, I wouldn’t mind a NYY reunion with Andujar to team with Jasson in left should Belli not come back.
He’s relatively inexpensive and I’m surprised more teams aren’t interested. If Boston for example is not going to sign Suarez to be a righty DH, Andujar would be a fine replacement for Ref.
He’s an aging league average (with neutral luck) hitter with big platoon splits and poor defense everywhere. Not sure he would even make the Red Sox, particularly if Campbell has a strong Spring. Certainly no room in OF.
I agree seam:
1) Red Sox have several internal options who are better than Andujar.
2) Breslow doesnt want Andujars defense, it doesnt fit his model. He’s all about Pitching and Defense.
3) It does not to lower the teams Ks or raise their BBs, which is something they’re trying to improve.
McCormick sucks. He’s fallen off the last few years, though I would want him back on a minor league deal.
That’s not very nice. What if he’s reading this?
Andujar could make sense for the Cardinals assuming Donovan is dealt. Nolan Gorman doesnt belong at 3b he will probably play some there but he really shouldnt.
I’d rather have Nolan at 3rd with Winn next to him, than at 2nd with Burleson next to him…
The question is, is he a significant upgrade over Fermin or Saggese? If Donovan is moved, I could understand the need, but without that not so sure. Of course a big improvement from Walker would go a long way to settle one of the outfield spots.
Yankees should sign him and Clint Frazier, then trade both to the Dodgers for Ohtani.
I cant believe I am seeing this headline. The whole meme was that nobody wanted Andujar. Now teams are lining up for him 10 years later. Totally vindicated Yankee fans.
Greg Bird has entered the chat.
Dear A’s Please do not bring back Andujar
Why? I thought he was pretty much ok…
Looks like he doesn’t play centerfield. I’d rather the Cardinals pass.
He’s pretty bad defensively and should be limited.
Cardinals have enough of those guys already.
I feel like if the Cards sign him, the plan is for him to be a trade chip come July
I’m down for the Royals adding Andujar since Duran deal seems to be dead. He’d be a great fit at a reasonable rate.
Andujar’s Statcast page is pretty miserable. Sure makes last year’s stats look fluky. Hope the Mets know better than to get involved.
Fans have done nothing but put him down since his Yankee days
Career year in one of the easiest parks to hit. If he goes to SD (or any other hitter’s park) he would totally regress. No thanks.
Pitcher’s park*
I personably thought that the Mariners would be in on Willi Castro and or Miguel Andujar who both can play multiple positions and put the ball in play. They must either be really confident that they can work out a deal for B. Donovan, they have a move to come that no one has yet considered, or they are going to stand pat. They need to add one more bat! They could use another arm in the bullpen as well and Danny Coloumbe is still out there. He has been pretty darn good the last three years, go grab him and strengthen that pen.