Yankees trade rumors: Just how good is Miguel Andujar?
If the Yankees want to swing a deal for a superstar before the trade deadline it may require giving up on Miguel Andujar. just how good is the rookie?
Yankees fans are desperate to see Brian Cashman swing a big deal to land New York another big star this month. One of the most challenging things for Cashman to do is to determine which players he can afford to give up on. There’s serious internal debate within the organization over whether or not Miguel Andujar should be moved for any price.
No one seems to know exactly what the Yankees front office thinks about the rookie third baseman. Some believe Cashman and company see him as a potential franchise cornerstone. Others think the team only speaks positively about him in order to drive up his trade value.
As usual with young players, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you’re inclined to believe in Andujar it’s easy for forecast him becoming an All-Star at the hot corner. His ability to hit for extra bases at such a young age clearly stands out.
On the other hand, his defensive metrics at third are atrocious. That, combined with his low .OBS convince some observers he’ll never become an average regular. The Yankees face quite a challenge in trying to determine which side of the debate they land on.
Let’s first take a look at the value Andujar provides as a hitter. His lack of ability to draw a walk is a concern, but it’s not uncommon for players to improve their plate discipline as they age. In fact, Andujar has shown more of a willingness to take a walk in recent weeks.
What you can’t teach is Andujar’s ability to produce solid contact. 41 of his 89 hits this season are for extra bases. That’s powered his .OPS to a very respectable .805. It’s reasonable to think his power numbers can actually increase as his body fills out. He’s got 12 home runs this season, but it’s fair to project him as a 30+ home run hitter moving forward.
Add all of his hitting numbers up and he profiles as a borderline star with the bat in his hand. He may never walk enough to achieve an above average .OBP, but his power hitting will more than make up for that. At the plate, Andujar’s floor is as an above average third baseman and his ceiling is to become an MVP candidate. That’s not the type of player Cashman’s inclined to give up on. Unfortunately, Andujar’s performance in the field also has to figure into his calculations.
By any advanced metric Andujar is one of the worst defensive third basemen in the game. He currently projects to cost the Yankees just under 30 runs in the field on the season. That’s obviously a horrible statistic. The question is whether or not the organization thinks Andujar can improve his defensive play.
That’s when you have to take observation into account. Andujar isn’t ever going to have great range at the hot corner. He’s just not quick enough to cut off doubles with diving stops. The rookie can improve his positioning as he becomes more acclimated to major league hitters, but he’s never going to have even average range.
The only glimmer of hope for him defensively is his arm strength. His throwing motion isn’t as consistent as it needs to be, but he can unleash some stellar throws on occasion. Coaching should be able to clean his mechanics up to maximize his arm strength. Once that happens, Andujar’s arm strength should help make up for some of his mobility issues.
Even so, even the most optimistic member of the Yankees organization can’t predict Andujar will ever be anything other than below-average in the field. He might creep towards average in his prime, but his glove work is always going to drag his performance down.
The natural question is what sort of player do you get when you add everything together. The truth is Andujar’s bat is so special he can still be a regular All-Star even with his fielding deficiencies. That will require him to make some moderate improvements at the plate, but the odds favor him making those adjustments successfully.
The median outcome for Andujar’s career at this point is for him to consistently play at a borderline All-Star level. As such, the Yankees should only consider including him in deals that net them a bona fide star in return. Giving up on him to acquire someone like Manny Machado or Jacob deGrom is a reasonable strategy. Parting with him to bring in Michael Fulmer or Tyler Skaggs would be a serious mistake.
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In the end, expect Cashman to hold on to Andujar unless he’s offered a superstar in return. That could happen, but the odds strongly favor the rookie staying in the Bronx for years to come.