The Yankees have a few players on the roster who could be viewed as trade bait once the lockout ends and the off-season once again picks up. With Spring Training ready to begin and Opening Day quickly nearing, the owners and players union desperately need to find a middle ground before the impact becomes extreme.
The Yankees were quiet before the lockout, failing to make any big acquisitions and waiting patiently for their time to strike in free agency 2.0. However, general manager Brian Cashman could also look to the trade market to bolster several positions, and one player that makes a lot of sense to depart is Miguel Andújar.
CBS coined Miguel Andujar as a player who needs a change-of-scenery, stating:
The 2018 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up has been limited to 78 big-league games by injuries and demotions the last three years, and he’s blocked at third base (Gio Urshela), first base (Luke Voit or a post-lockout addition), left field (Joey Gallo), and DH (Giancarlo Stanton) in New York. Miguel Andújar badly needs a fresh start with a team that can give him everyday at-bats at one set position. With the Yankees, he’s not much more than a role player who bounces around.
Andújar’s impact has been minor the past few seasons after recording a .297 average with 27 homers and 92 RBIs back in 2018. Last year, he featured in 45 games, hitting .253 with six homers and 12 RBIs.
By most accounts, Andujar remains a solid offensive player who could use a bit more patience at the play and rejuvenate his slugging abilities. His hard-hit percentage landed at 35.8% back in 2018, with an exit velocity of 89.1 on average. He hit the ball on the barrel 29 times, suitable for a 6% rate. Last season, he had a 37% hard-hit rate and seven barrel balls, landing at 5.5%.
Looking just at his hard-hit numbers, there aren’t any significant decreases from his lucrative 2018 season, signifying that more reps and opportunities could unlock plenty of production.
CBS believes that the Athletics, Pirates, and Rockies could all live with his defensive shortcomings, featuring him as a DH.
The Yankee simply have too many DH candidates, and the defense is stocked full of players that far outweigh Andujar in terms of value. Management has tried to find Andujar a new home on defense, but he struggled considerably in the outfield and at third base. With the Yankees having elevated expectations every year, they can’t afford to allow him time to work through his kinks during registered games.