While the New York Yankees have walked away from a potential mega-millions deal to bring superstar free agent Manny Machado to the Bronx, it doesn’t seem as if staring third-baseman Miguel Andujar has job security at this point in time.
Reports of the Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman having interest in Colorado Rockies’ third-baseman, Nolan Arenado, have inserted second-guesses into the narrative that Andujar is secure at his position. While the Bombers’ youth star batted .297 in 2018, he allowed 15 errors in the field and struggled to develop defensively.
I feel as though the Yankees need to instill more faith in Andujar, who has worked tirelessly to improve his defense among rumors of his departure. The expectations for the 23-year-old heading into last season were slim, which is why expecting him to be a phenomenal infielder in his rookie year was ludicrous.
Should we even believe these winter hot-stove rumors?
As fans, these rumors are enticing and interesting, especially when it comes to a more experienced player that also hit .297 with 38 homers in 2018. Arenado finished the year with a 132 wRC+, the highest in his six-year career. His abilities at the plate are eye-opening and his defense is also quality. But, that isn’t enough to even draw a blink from me in regard to trading or moving Andujar to another position.
The success of any given team comes down to the development of home-grown players, and letting Andujar go on a minimal salary for a high-cost player doesn’t make much sense.
It seems as if the Yankees are playing a “win-now” game which could be the catalyst behind some of the more optimistic rumors. Fortunately, nothing is solidified or can be deemed true.
While Andujar will likely see his batting totals even out after a rookie-of-the-year caliber season, his growth should offer confidence in the executives and fans moving forward.