What Makes Miguel Andujar an Attractive Free Agent for Padres?

[Randy Holt]

With much of the top tier of free agency now off the board, especially on the positional side, we're starting to hear about the next wave of free agents having a market of their own. One of those is Miguel Andujar, something of a utility man for whose services the San Diego Padres are currently in the running. 

Jon Heyman's reporting on Monday listed at least six teams in on the veteran hitter, one of which is the Padres. Given the current context of their depth and their bench — which, at present, features Sung Mun Song, Bryce Johnson, and then a large gap before reliability — Andujar represents a logical target. This is true to the point where he could actually be an impact bat in a role that transcends that of a reserve altogether. 

Andujar is coming off his best season since his 2018 breakout with the New York Yankees. Following years of performance struggle and injury woes, Across 94 games and 341 plate appearances, he turned in a .318/.352/.470 line with a 125 wRC+. His skill set features a lot of balls in play, as he doesn't strike out much (14.4 K%), though he doesn't walk either (5.0 BB%). Even with only modest power at this point, his profile can be an asset to a Padres team in need of exactly the areas in which he appears. 

Already a contact-driven club, there's a handedness and a versatility to his game that suits San Diego in the most ideal of terms. As a right-handed hitter with traditional splits, Andujar would compliment the roster well. The Padres ranked 17th wRC+ (96) and 23rd in ISO (.130) against southpaws. Andujar, meanwhile, went for a 171 wRC+ and a .189 ISO against pitchers of the opposite handedness last year. Which becomes even more important when you consider the positions at which he could find work. 

With the Athletics and Cincinnati Reds, Andujar spent time at first base, third base, and each of the corner outfield spots. He also worked in some time as a designated hitter. While the outfield corners and third base are all spoken for, there's a bit of murkiness with respect to first base and the designated hitter spot. The assumption, at this stage, is that some combination of Jake Cronenworth, Gavin Sheets, and Song could all find some work there. Each is a left-handed hitter, however. It leaves an easy picture to paint as to where he'd find the most regular work should the Padres be successful in signing him. 

Even if it's not a situation where he's isolated to those two positions, the team could be more inclined for off days or DH days for Manny Machado at third or seize the opportunity to give Fernando Tatis Jr. more traditional days off in right. There are opportunities aplenty for a righty of this particular skill set in San Diego. 

The unfortunate thing for the Padres is that the competition is stiff and we don't know quite what their financial situation looks like. There's familiarity in their competition in each of the A's and Reds, with a surefire contender in the Chicago Cubs also lurking in attempting to sign him. Among those remaining on the free-agent market, though, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more ideal fit against the current roster context than Miguel Andujar and the San Diego Padres.

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[Stuart Shaffer]

Andujar is a professional hitter, can play 3 positions, hits LH pitchers well, and, importantly, he hits well vs. LA.  However, as the article states, there is competition to sign him.  Paul Goldschmidt hits LH pitchers as well as or better than Andujar, hits well against LA, but is older and confined to 1B/DH.  Competition to sign him should be less and his contract is likely to be only one year.  Either can do the job if Preller has the money.