Miguel Andújar (Image source: Instagram) The Philadelphia Phillies continue to make headway into fine-tuning their roster following overhauls of key areas early on in the offseason, and their outfield may be next on the list. While the club is planning to give top prospect Justin Crawford every shot to win the center-field job, with Brandon Marsh and offseason acquisition Adolis Garcia penciled into the corners, there are questions about whether the unit packs enough punch. According to MLB.com insider Mark Feinsand, Philadelphia might eye veteran slugger Miguel Andújar as a relatively risk-free addition to its positional depth.
The Phillies could use an outfielder like Miguel Andujar or Randal Grichuk: Feinsand
Feinsand said the Phillies have already made most of their headline-grabbing moves, including re-signing Kyle Schwarber for a five-year, $150 million deal and bringing back J.T. Realmuto for a three-year, $45 million deal. “The Phillies did their heavy lifting early . . .” They lost Ranger Suarez to free agency, and while it is a plan to have top prospect Andrew Painter ultimately fill that spot, Philadelphia could look to add starting pitching depth to the squad. “The Phillies could also use a right-handed-hitting outfielder like Miguel Andujar or Randal Grichuk,” Feinsand wrote on January 29. Andujar, 30, regained his value last season while dividing time between the Athletics and Cincinnati Reds. In total, across the two stops, he hit 10 home runs and drove in 44 runs, putting up an incredible 125 OPS+ in 321 at-bats, numbers that stand out for a player who may be available at a modest price.
Why Andujar might be a sensible bargain
For the Philadelphia Phillies, Andujar’s appeal is his bat and flexibility. He could fill in on the bench and play every day or compete every day at-bat, especially in left field, where his offensive upside could be higher than Brandon Marsh’s. Contract-wise, the fit might be equally attractive. Spotrac projected Andujar earlier in the winter to land a two-year deal that was worth $12.2 million, but with a slowing market, the Phillies could get him even less, making the former All-Star a possible steal.With the club again looking at running deep into the playoffs, incremental upgrades could be crucial. Adding someone with a proven right-handed hit like Andújar would give manager Rob Thomson another option in late-inning matchups and increase competition throughout the outfield. As spring training approaches, the search for finishing touches may soon have the Phillies looking hard at Andújar.