Yankees: Brian Cashman says a lot of teams have interest in trading for Miguel Andujar

Entering the offseason Miguel Andujar’s role for the Yankees in 2020 is still very unclear which makes him somewhat expendable. Could he be traded this winter? That remains to be seen, but according to GM Brian Cashman, there are a lot of teams showing interest in acquiring him.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the Yankees this winter is how Miguel Andujar will fit into the lineup next season. After finishing as the runner up for AL Rookie of the Year in 2018 the 24-year-old had an injury-plagued sophomore season and only played in 12 games before undergoing season-ending surgery for a torn right labrum in May.

Gio Urshela stepped in as his replacement for New York and had a breakout season offensively hitting .314 with 21 HR and 74 RBI. He’s also a much better defender than Miggy is at third base and will likely enter spring training next February as the Yankees starting third basemen. However, that doesn’t mean Andujar is going to be a bench player.

At the GM meetings in Arizona earlier this week Cashman talked about how he’s been daydreaming about different ways to fit Andujar’s bat into the lineup. Per Ken Davidoff of the New York Post:

"“If Gio [Urshela] continues to hold [third base], you’re going to want to see if you can find a way to get that bat into the lineup,” Cashman said Tuesday of Andujar, “whether it’s, ‘Can he play first? Can he play the outfield?’ You start playing those mind games…"

Although Cashman said the Yankees haven’t told Miggy to start trying out new positions he did say he believes he’s athletic enough to do it and it seems like this is something management is definitely considering.  And why wouldn’t they? Andujar proved in 2018 that his bat is legit and if he’s on the roster next season the Yankees need to find a way to get his bat into the lineup on a consistent basis.

Now the question is whether or not he’ll still be on the roster when the season rolls around. In an interview with The Michael Kay Show on ESPN Radio Cashman said he’s been getting a lot of interest in Miggy.

"“I’ve got clubs asking me, ‘What are you going to do with him? We’d have an interest in him. Mark us down.’”"

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It’s no surprise there are plenty of teams asking about Andujar’s availability given his age and offensive upside. All these teams also know that the Yankees infield right now is pretty crowded and he could be the odd man out. Cashman noted that the top priority with Miggy first and foremost is getting him back 100% healthy, but he also added that there’s, “a whole array of opportunities and choices that we’ll be walking through as we navigate this winter.”

Based on those comments it’s hard to say what the future holds for Miggy in pinstripes, but the Yankees aren’t going to trade him away just because there’s not a clear position for him in the starting lineup.

If the deal makes sense and they can get a huge piece in return for him like an ace starting pitcher I’m sure they’ll consider it, but they’re not going to sell low on him if the return doesn’t make them better in 2020.