Ex-Yankees Intriguing Slugger Available; Should Red Sox Take Chance To Add Depth?
One former member of the New York Yankees may be available soon.
Former Yankees utility man Miguel Andujar officially was designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday afternoon, according to the club.
Andujar was designated for assignment by the Yankees near the end of the 2022 season and was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old has struggled so far this season in 16 games for Pittsburgh slashing .161/.212/.387 to go along with two home runs and six RBIs, but he has shown flashes at the big league level.
In 2018, Andujar was one of the best rookies in all of baseball. He finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting after clubbing 27 home runs to go along with 92 RBIs. Andujar slashed .297/.328/.527 in 149 games and also hit an eye-popping 47 doubles.
Since 2018 Andujar has dealt with a wide range of injuries and inconsistent playing time. He has played in just 127 big league games since the end of the 2018 season. He has shown some flashes of his former self -- like in 2021 when he slashed .253/.284/.383 in 45 games to go along with six home runs and 12 RBIs -- but hasn't been able to get his footing back.
Now that he has been designated for assignment by Pittsburgh, other clubs will have one week to claim him off waivers. If one were to do this, he would immediately need to be placed on that team's 40-man roster. The Pirates also could trade Andujar during the week. If he has not been acquired by another team one week after being designated for assignment, he will become a free agent and will be available to be signed.
A minor-league contract may make perfect sense for the Red Sox. Andujar's injuries and inconsistent playing time have been an issue, but he has shown that he can have success at the big league level and specifically in the American League East. At this point, he may not be ready to be a big-league depth piece, but some time in the minors could allow him to work out any kinks and fully recover as he attempts to revive his career.
At this point, he is a low-cost, high-reward type player that has seen time in the outfield and also in the infield so he could be of some help without a doubt. If he could find his groove again in the minors, he could be a productive big leaguer once again.
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