Former butt-end of Yankees trade jokes is now lifting Reds to unlikely playoff berth

Not too long ago, the New York Yankees believed an unheralded rookie would be a future cornerstone of their organization. After all, if not for Shohei Ohtani, he would've been the American League Rookie of the Year back in 2018.

That man was Miguel Andújar. That year, the third baseman ripped 47 doubles, 27 homers and 92 RBI. He hit .297 with an .855 OPS. On the whole, because Ohtani played in only 104 games, Andújar was actually better offensively, but Ohtani's 10 starts tipped the scales.

The very next year, Andújar busted his shoulder sliding into third base. He appeared in just 12 games and subtracted an astonishing 1.2 WAR from the Yankees in that brief time (after registering 2.8 across his 149 contests during his rookie year). Shortly after, Gio Urshela arrived, and the Yankees never again found a permanent home for Andújar to get regular playing time. His remaining tenure in the Bronx was a disaster.

Some fans held out hope that the organization could at least trade him and get some value for his ROY campaign. But Andújar quickly became a distressed asset because of the complications of his injury and the lack of a lane to make contributions.

Admittedly, there were some fans out there thinking an "Andújar plus Clint Frazier" trade package could land the Yankees anything of substance. In the end, both were jettisoned unceremoniously, with the organization getting little out of either. And there was no value to be had in return.

That had all the Yankees haters running rampant on social media, mocking New York fans with hyperbolic trade proposals involving Andújar and Frazier. I'm sorry ... was it almost as funny as the Orioles asking for our top pitching prospect in exchange for Charlie Morton? Surely, no other fan base — let alone opposing organization — does this. It's just those damn entitled Yankees. They want everything!

They're still making the jokes, by the way! This is how sad these people are. They hate the Yankees so much they actually live and breathe the Yankees.

Former butt-end of Yankees trade jokes Miguel Andújar is now lifting Reds to unlikely playoff berth

While Frazier doesn't have a leg to stand on since he's now podcasting and out of baseball, Andújar has quietly flipped the script on all the disrespectful malcontents out there. He's currently fueling a playoff push in the National League.

At this year's trade deadline, the Athletics sent Andújar to the Cincinnati Reds in a deal that many brushed off as insignificant. Admittedly, at the time, it was. The veteran had played in just 165 games dating back to 2023. His power wasn't anywhere near what it used to be. His defense was still underwhelming.

Well, here we are a couple months later, and Andújar is hitting .349 with 12 runs scored, 4 home runs, 16 RBI and a .966 OPS in 28 games with Cincinnati, who are currently the No. 6 seed in the NL playoff picture. The Reds have mostly used him at DH, but Terry Francona has gotten some use out of him at first base and in left field.

Yankees fans are undoubtedly pulling for Andújar, as most feel badly about how his time in the Bronx went. He was atop the world in 2018 only to become fully irrelevant (and disrespected by being stashed at the alternate site) in 2020.

And the best part about it? He can't hurt the Yankees amid his current year. But you know who he can hurt? The Mets, as the Reds are threatening their playoff spot with six games left in the regular season. Mets fans ... you got any jokes now?