With the 2022 trade deadline approaching, the New York Yankees are gearing up to make a big move. However, one of their reserve players requested to be traded after being demoted several weeks ago following the return of Giancarlo Stanton from the injured list.
Miguel Andujar is the player of note, asking management to be sent to a Major League team where he can compete for playing time and increase his service time simultaneously. Andujar is three years away from becoming a free agent and is arbitration-eligible in 2023.
General manager Brian Cashman spoke to the media on Thursday, crushing Andujar’s dreams of being a trade piece at the upcoming deadline.
“I don’t ever look to trade somebody because they ask to be traded,” the Yankees general manager said Thursday. “He’s a member of this organization and someone that we value and we benefit from having. Obviously, if something makes sense, we’d do something. But obviously, clearly through this point, we feel like he’s more valuable to us than me doing anything that has been presented to me up to this point.”
Andujar is playing well this season:
This season with Triple-A, Scranton, Andujar is hitting .316 with a 36.2% on-base rate and .485 slugging percentage. He’s hit seven homers with 27 RBIs, posting a 13% strikeout rate and 6.5% walk rate.
Andujar has made 14 appearances with the top team this year, hitting .245 but struggling to get on base at a 27% clip.
Andujar stated recently that he’s trying to focus on what he can control, and clearly, Cashman isn’t willing to do him any favors.
“I really enjoy playing baseball and I really enjoy playing at this level. I’ve got to focus on what I can control. Let that be the main focus; keep playing as hard as I can. I know opportunities will come down the road.”
With Andujar preparing to hit arbitration, his value is minimal. The Yankees wouldn’t get much in return for the transitioned outfielder. As a defensive liability, Andujar may have trouble sticking in the outfield, but he can at least provide substantial value on the offensive side.