Andujar, March 31, is having his best season in years. He missed just over a month with an oblique strain, but played in 94 games, split between the A’s and Reds in a deadline trade. He generally puts the ball in play a lot and avoids both strikeouts and walks, and that remained the case last year. In his 341 plate appearances, his 5% walk rate was quite low, but he also only struck out at a 14.4% clip.
He produced a .318/.352/.470 batting line, production that translated into a wRC+ of 125, or 25% better than league average. There was probably a bit of luck involved, as his .348 batting average on balls in play was quite high, but it would have been a good performance even with neutral luck. He slashed .277/.315/.399 over 2023 and 2024 for a wRC+ of 103, with a reduced .306 BABIP in that stretch.
Andujar hits from the right and has strong platoon splits. For his career, he has a .297/.332/.475 line and 121 wRC+ against lefties, compared to a .275/.307/.427 line and 101 wRC+ without platoon advantage. Last year it was even more extreme, as Andujar had a .389/.409/.578 line and 171 wRC+ against lefties. Against righties, he held his own with a .290/.331/.429 line and 108 wRC+.
Defensively, he doesn’t play a premium position, but he does offer some versatility, having featured on the corner four last year. He doesn’t get good numbers anywhere, but the ability to move is useful if a club wants to play matchups.
So Andujar could theoretically be useful to any club with a left-hander in the corner somewhere. The A’s employed Andujar in 2024 and part of 2025 and could do so again. They have Nick Kurtz initially with the outfield corners manned by Tyler Soderstrom And Laurens Butler. They could potentially be more competitive in 2026, but they could also trade Andujar again at the deadline. Last year they were able to acquire a pitching prospect Kenya Huggins of the Reds.
The Rangers project must have Brandon Nimmo left. Evan Carter is another left-hander, with notable struggles against left-handers, and wants to become the club’s midfielder. A suggestion has been made Wyatt Langford could require some playing time in midfield, which could free up space for a right-wing bat in a corner. Game Pederson projects to be the designated hitter. He’s had a bad season, but has crushed the righties and fought the lefties in his career.
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom recently said the Cards have room for a righty outfielder. The club expects to be left-handed Lars Nootbaar in a corner, with Alec Burleson at first base and Nolan Gorman He may get a lot of playing time at third. The Cards are rebuilding, but Andujar could help the club protect their current players and then perhaps be traded at the deadline like he was last year.
The Reds had Andujar just before the final two months of the 2025 season and were able to re-sign him. Gavin Lux to the Rays, but project to be left-handed JJ Bleday in one outside corner. The Cubs have Michael Busch at first base and Moises Ballesteros is likely the favorite to take over the designated hitter spot. The Padres project has a combination of Jake Cronenworth, Month And Gavin Sheets regarding first base, second base and designated hitter.
As a platoon player on the short side, Andujar probably won’t do much on the open market. Boys like it Austin Hays And Randal Grichuk are somewhat similar players who each got one-year, $5 million deals last season. Rob Refsnyder I just got $6.3 million from the Mariners last month on a one-year deal.
Hays and Grichuk are now back, alongside Andujar. Other similar players in this market include Austin Slater, Tommy Pham, Starling Marte And Chas McCormick. There is also Harrison Baderalthough he should be a level above this group. Being a strong defender in the center makes him a viable everyday player and could potentially secure a two-year contract.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Hanisch, Imagn Images
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