The New York Yankees were rumored to have an interest in superstar free agent Manny Machado this offseason, before he signed with the San Diego Padres on a 10-year, $300 million deal with a 5th-year option.
Machado would have instantly improved the Yankees’ infield, but it would have forced the team to relocate youth phenom, Miguel Andujar. The 23-year-old is coming off a stellar offensive season, hitting .297 with 47 doubles and 27 homers. Replacing him, or rather moving him from the only position he’s ever played would be devastating to his development.
Letting Machado walk in free agency was the best thing the Bombers could have done in regard to instilling confidence in their potential cornerstone piece in the infield.
There’s no question Andujar heard the rumors of a potential Manny deal, but as always, he responded with pure class and respect:
“First of all, I want to congratulate Manny, $300 million, wow,’’ Andujar said Wednesday during spring training. “I always stay positive and focus on my responsibilities.’’
I’ve always loved the way Andujar carries himself in public and the way he bleeds professionalism at such a young age. He’s always positive in the midst of adversity.
What had Miguel Andujar done to improve his defense?
This offseason, the third baseman has spent time refining his defensive abilities. His issues stemmed primarily from his throwing and lapse in judgment. His glove was solid throughout the season, but a majority of the 15 errors he committed were results of the factors listed.
Moving forward, I would expect Andujar to see an improvement with his defense but level out on offense. He simply was hitting out of his mind in 2018, and him enjoying a similar season could be a stretch.