Miguel Andujar may finally be done with New York Yankees rollercoaster
Miguel Andujar has been frustrated with his playing time with the New York Yankees for years. Now, his time with the Yankees may finally be at an end.
Andujar was designated for assignment on Thursday as the Yankees needed the spot on the 40 man roster for Zack Britton.
New York Yankees roller coaster almost over for Miguel Andujar
While he could be kept on as a depth option if he is able to clear waivers, that may simply delay the inevitable. He has two years of arbitration left and, despite making just $1.3 million this season, is far more likely to be allowed to enter free agency than to be offered a contract in New York.
Andujar’s career was not expected to come to this. He had appeared to be a building block for the franchise, posting a .297/.328/.527 batting line with 27 homers and 47 doubles in his 606 plate appearances in 2018. He finished second to Shohei Ohtani in the Rookie of the Year vote that season as it seemed that he would be a key part of their lineup moving forward.
Injuries ruined those expectations. Once Andujar was healthy again, he no longer had a position as Gio Urshela had taken over at third. His defense, or lack thereof, at third made it probable that Andujar would need to change positions anyway, with the Yankees attempting to put him in left. Even that has not led to playing time as the former building block has just 376 major league plate appearances in the past four years.
This has become a double edged sword. Andujar constantly being shuffled between Triple-A and the majors has not allowed him to get into a groove in New York. At the same time, his .228/.255/.318 batting line with just eight homers and six doubles in those 376 plate appearances has not forced the Yankees hand into giving him more of a chance.
If that chance is going to happen, it will not be in New York. Andujar himself is aware of that as he has requested a trade. The Yankees had refused to acquiesce to his demands for several weeks before finally relenting prior to the deadline. However, nothing was able to manifest, leaving Andujar back on the continual rollercoaster ride.
Now he may finally get his wish. Andujar may be done with the Yankees, free to find an opportunity somewhere else. Even if he is kept in the minors for the rest of this season, he could still get a chance to find another team during the offseason. It is just a matter of time.
Miguel Andujar’s rollercoaster ride with the New York Yankees could be coming to an end. He may finally get his wish to be somewhere else.