The New York Yankees enjoyed a pleasant surprise in third baseman Gio Urshela this past season, as he joined the team as a career-average player who exceeded all expectations in the Bronx.
Urshela finished up 2019 with an impressive .314 batting average with 21 homers, breaking his career highs in nearly every category. General manager Brian Cashman uncovered a lost gem in Gio, but you know what they say, you cannot make diamonds without pressure. The infielder undoubtedly rose to the occasion.
However, his presence and justifiable retention with the Yankees poses a question for youth product, Miguel Andujar, who missed nearly the entire season due to shoulder surgery on a torn labrum. Andujar was stellar during his 2018 rookie campaign, though, hitting .297 with 27 long balls and 92 RBIs and 47 doubles. His sensational start to his career all but solidified his spot on the hot corner, despite defenses woes.
Those defensive mishaps didn’t go away in 2018, and they surely didn’t alleviate this year. Gaining him back will give the Bomber and manager Aaron Boone two choices at third base, but we can assume that he will stick with Urshela for the time being. He has earned the starting job and deserves another crack at consistency.
Urshela tweaked his swing last season to increase his rate of contact, which allowed him to put the ball in play far more than in previous seasons. The Yankees helped him improve his launch angle, which saw his home run totals sky-rocket, beating his previous record by eight (14). This propelled him to a major league spot on one of the best teams in baseball, rather than scouring the minor leagues for an opportunity. Also, his defense qualities are so efficient that the Yankees cannot pull him from third base.
What can the New York Yankees do with Miguel Andujar?
Now that Miguel’s trade value has plummeted after missing an entire season of experience, it’s likely that he will remain with the club and split time on the hot corner with Urshela. Cashman could look to deal him, but one solid season won’t have teams begging for his services. The better scenario would be to help him return to form in 2020 and then look to deal him after he’s proven he can be a serviceable player once again.
Despite his nullified 2019 campaign, including him in a potential trade for a starting pitcher can’t be ruled out, either.