The idea of a Miguel Andujar reunion in the Bronx had a certain nostalgic pull this winter. After all, he checks a lot of boxes the Yankees are actively trying to fill: a right-handed bat that torches left-handed pitching, elite contact skills, and a track record of offensive production.
On paper, he looks like the perfect piece to balance a lefty-heavy lineup. But the Yankees didn’t bite.
In fact, they didn’t even make a call-and that silence says a lot.
Let’s be clear: Andujar raked in 2025. He slashed .318/.352/.470 with an .822 OPS, and his numbers against lefties were borderline absurd.
In 90 at-bats versus southpaws, he hit .389 with a .987 OPS and only 16 strikeouts. That’s the kind of bat you want in your lineup when you’re staring down a tough lefty starter or looking to create matchup nightmares late in games.
But baseball isn’t just about what happens in the batter’s box-and the Yankees know that better than most. They’ve lived through the defensive rollercoaster that is Miguel Andujar, and they’re not eager to hop back on.
Even with his bat back in form, the glove remains a liability. His Fielding Run Value last season sat in the 18th percentile, which basically confirms what the eye test has been telling us for years: the defense just isn’t there.
Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News summed it up well on the Fireside Yankees podcast: “From what I was told, there weren’t any conversations with him… while the bat would have been great… he’s still a poor defender… that was never a real consideration for the Yankees.” That’s a pretty definitive statement, and it underscores a clear shift in the Yankees’ priorities. They’re no longer willing to trade defense for offense-not in a league where defensive efficiency has never been more important.
So if Andujar isn’t in the mix, who is? According to Phillips, the Yankees have been doing their due diligence on several names, with Ty France emerging as a real possibility.
“Ty France is somebody that they’ve spoken to as recently as Tuesday,” Phillips said. “Paul Goldschmidt remains on the market… Randal Grichuk is still out there.
Austin Slater is still out there.”
That list gives us a pretty good sense of what the front office is targeting: right-handed bats with at least passable gloves. France may not be a defensive wizard, but he brings a level of consistency and professionalism at first base that Andujar simply doesn’t.
And that’s the difference. The Yankees want the platoon advantage, sure-but they’re not going to sacrifice defensive integrity to get it.
France, in particular, feels like a name to watch. The fact that conversations with him are ongoing suggests he’s more than just a fallback option. He fits the mold of a player who could sign late in the offseason and still make an impact-especially if Amed Rosario, who’s getting some looks at first base, doesn’t pan out in that role.
Brian Cashman still has time, and the market hasn’t fully settled. But make no mistake: the Yankees are being deliberate.
They’re not chasing nostalgia or swinging for the fences on one-dimensional players. They’re looking for balance-guys who can hit, yes, but who also won’t cost them runs in the field.
And that’s why Miguel Andujar, for all his offensive upside, was never really in the conversation.