The free agent market is finally showing signs of life, and that could be a game-changer for the next wave of available hitters-names like Austin Hays and Miguel Andujar, who’ve been sitting in limbo well into January without deals.
That wait might be nearing its end, thanks in part to the New York Yankees locking in Cody Bellinger on Wednesday. With that move, the top tier of free agent bats-Bellinger, Kyle Tucker, Bo Bichette, and Alex Bregman-are all officially off the board. And when the big names find homes, it usually opens the floodgates for the rest of the market.
That’s where Hays and Andujar come in. They’re not the headline-makers of this class, but they bring real value-especially for teams looking to round out a roster with versatile, matchup-friendly bats. Former Reds slugger Eugenio Suárez, most recently with the Mariners, is another name in that same category.
Let’s talk about fit. While it’s unclear whether Cincinnati is actively pursuing any of these players, Hays and Andujar are the kind of pieces that can plug into a lot of different lineups.
Both bring positional flexibility-Hays can cover all three outfield spots, while Andujar offers experience both in the infield and outfield. That kind of versatility is gold in today’s game, especially with the universal DH and the constant juggling of lineups to find favorable matchups.
Offensively, both hitters have shown they can handle left-handed pitching particularly well. But they’re not just platoon options-they’ve held their own against righties too, making them more than just situational bats. That well-roundedness is why they’ve been linked to several teams throughout the offseason, even if nothing’s materialized yet.
Now that the top-tier dominoes have fallen, don’t be surprised if negotiations for this second wave of hitters start to accelerate. Front offices now have a clearer picture of the market, and that usually means deals start getting done in bunches.
So while Hays, Andujar, and Suárez have had to wait their turn, their phones might be ringing a lot more in the coming days. The market’s moving-and for these mid-tier bats, that’s the best news they’ve had all winter.