TAMPA, FL – MARCH 12: Miguel Andujar #41 of the New York Yankees warms up before the spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at Steinbrenner Field on March 12, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

The New York Yankees have been all over the place during MLB’s hot stove season. There have been several bogus reports that have given Yankees fans false hope that a player signing might be imminent, or that the Yankees are more closely linked to a free agent than they actually are.

It happened again on Wednesday, when the San Diego Padres signed infielder Miguel Andujar just one day after it was reported that the Yankees ‘decision makers’ (front office) loved Andujar. The New York Post was first on the Andujar report.

More MLB on Heavy: Report: Yankees Decision Makers Love .318 Average Hitter Who Spent Six Seasons With New York

Yankees Still Need to Add Right-Handed Bat

With Miguel Andujar now off the board, the Yankees still need to add a right-handed hitter. The report about the Yankees’ decision makers loving Andujar came from Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman.

The 30-year-old third baseman/ left fielder hit .318 with both the Athletics and Cincinnati Reds in 2025 over 94 games.

TAMPA, FL – MARCH 12: Miguel Andujar #41 of the New York Yankees warms up before the spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at Steinbrenner Field on March 12, 2019 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

Andujar also spent six seasons with the Yankees to begin his career. During his six-year stint with the Yankees, Andujar hit 35 home runs in 259 games with a .273 average in pinstripes and a slightly above-average OPS+ (106).

It will be interesting to see how the Padres will even use Andujar, because he wouldn’t have served in a prominent role with the Yankees, so the likely scenario is that San Diego offered Andujar a contract value that New York would not match, which is probably a good thing.

More MLB on Heavy: New Development Suggests Mets’ Brett Baty Has Trade Suitors

Who Else Should the Yankees Target?

As mentioned, the Yankees still need a right-handed hitter, and there are still options like Paul Goldschmidt and Rhys Hoskins as options.

As currently constructed, there are just way too many lefties in the Yankees’ lineup (Trent Grisham, Ryan McMahon, Jazz Chisholm, Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger).

According to BaseballReference.com, Andujar is projected to hit .287 next season with 11 home runs and 48 RBI. Now that he’s on the Padres, who need outfield help, he has an inside shot at breaking camp with the club and getting meaningful at-bats right away.

More MLB on Heavy: Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Sends Clear Message About Team Spending Amid Backlash

 

More Heavy on Yankees

Loading more stories