The New York Yankees went through a revitalization of sorts in 2019, proving to themselves that they don’t need to rely on everyday starters to tack up wins. With the outfield in shambles after injuries plagued the unit and with the infield suffering a similar fate, reserve players were forced into starting position, in which they helped the team reach 103 total wins.
Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Hicks, Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius, Luke Voit, Gary Sanchez, and more all missed significant time, which hurt the Yankees’ overall production. However, players like Gio Urshela, Mike Tauchman, and Mike Ford saved the day, helping the Bombers to the ALCS, where they would eventually fall to the scandalous Astros.
Fast forward to January of 2020, and the team is nearly healthy and ready to proceed into spring training. Some questions remain — Miguel Andujar remains in limbo after Urshela claimed the starting third base position and will get the first crack at retaining the role.
The New York Yankees are trying to maximize Miguel Andujar:
Manager Aaron Boone made it apparent that he has plans for Andujar moving forward, despite rumors bubbling that the Yankees could be moving a notable player. Nonetheless, Andujar should be kept on the team, especially after a fantastic rookie season in 2018, where he logged a .297 batting average with 27 homers and 47 doubles.
Andujar’s offensive capabilities shouldn’t be forgotten in this process, but his defensive struggles at third base have forced him into a corner. The Yankees could look to capitalize on his value before spring training, given he proves he’s incapable of playing well at first base or in left field.
The Yankees are attempting to give Andujar another chance at starting, and having him waiting on the bench for his opportunity would not be in the best interest of the team. Predicting injuries is also impossible, and with Stanton likely slotting into the designated hitter spot more often than not, Andujar could be waiting patiently for a position to open up.