The Yankees are “open to moving” young third baseman Miguel Andujar in a trade, according to Ken Rosenthal and Robert Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link). Whether there’s a particularly likely path to that occurring remains to be seen.
It has long been presumed that the New York organization would be open to considering trade scenarios involving Andujar. At the same time, the team’s stance hasn’t always been clear. And the timing of this report increases its relevance, as the Yanks are engaged on multiple fronts in the midst of the Winter Meetings.
As Rosenthal notes, it’s not hard at all to imagine that Andujar could make up a notable part of the rumored three-team trade negotiations between the Yankees, Mets, and Marlins. That seems a speculative connection at this stage, though it certainly stands to reason that the Fish would have interest in a player who fell just shy of a Rookie of the Year Award in 2018 and could be a cornerstone for years to come.
Of course, it’s also plenty possible to imagine Andujar being utilized in other trade scenarios as the Yankees seek to add a high-end starter (while avoiding a large and lengthy contract, to the extent possible). The Indians have long marketed their enticing set of starters, though it could be that the teams have already tried and failed to line up on a deal.
Moving Andujar, of course, would also conceivably line up with a signing of superstar free agent Manny Machado — the Yanks remain engaged with him but say they’re out on Bryce Harper — though it’d hardly make such a move a sure thing. All said, possibilities abound.
