The current New York Yankees team has proved to be one of the most resilient and exciting in baseball, especially with the emergence of Gio Urshela at third base and DJ LeMahieu as a rotational infielder.
One question that crosses my mind — is Miguel Andujar expendable now after they’ve found answers in the infield? There are two sides to the argument.
Does Yankees’ Miguel Andujar’s defense make him a liability?
The Yankees’ youthful third baseman had a fantastic rookie campaign at the plate, hitting .297 with 27 homers and 92 RBIs. His fantastic offensive production immediately made him the expected starter for the future at the hot corner for the Bombers, however, his defensive issues have presented a dilemma.
Are the Yanks better off trading Andujar for a starting pitcher? Or should they hang tight and see where his future takes them?
He tallied three errors in four games earlier this year before being transferred to the 60-day injured list with season-ending shoulder surgery. The fact is, his value is at an all-time low, but he’s in a similar situation to Clint Frazier. Both are offensively solid but struggle on the defensive side. The difference being, Frazier has more of an attitude and privileged mentality compared to Andujar who seems to be a true Yankee.
I see the Yankees sticking with their young gun for the future, considering Urshela is a one-year wonder at this point — as a career .227 hitter currently batting .303 on the season, probability-wise, he’s not going to enjoy this success in future years. Keeping him around, though, isn’t a bad idea.
Andujar will need some time to recover and catch up to his former self. At this point, it seems destined that he will remain a Yankees for the foreseeable future based on his potential and likeness in the club-house. LeMahieu, who’s been solid at third base when Urshela is off, is a far better second-baseman – his natural position. There’s no need to test the waters with inexperience when continuing to develop Andujar is an option on the table.