Just ten days after Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young told reporters the club “feels pretty good” about its position players heading into 2026, Texas is now being linked to a name that could shake up that equation-Miguel Andújar.
According to reports, the Rangers are among several teams showing interest in the right-handed hitter, who’s coming off a resurgent 2025 campaign split between the Athletics and Reds. Andújar batted .318 with an .822 OPS last season, marking his best production since his breakout rookie year in 2018. That kind of performance has caught the attention of multiple clubs, including the Padres, Cardinals, Reds, Cubs, A’s-and yes, the Rangers.
Let’s break down why this connection makes sense.
A Comeback Story with Real Legs
Andújar, who turns 31 in March, looked like a rising star back in 2018 when he hit .297 with 27 home runs and 92 RBI for the Yankees. That season earned him a second-place finish in AL Rookie of the Year voting-right behind Shohei Ohtani.
But injuries and inconsistency derailed his trajectory. A torn right labrum in 2019 limited him to just 12 games, and he never quite regained his footing with the Yankees, bouncing between the big leagues and Triple-A before being designated for assignment in 2022.
Since then, it’s been a slow but steady climb back. After short stints with the Pirates in 2022 and 2023, Andújar finally found his rhythm again in 2024 and took a big leap forward in 2025.
He started last season with Oakland, slashing .298/.329/.436 (111 OPS+) over 60 games. Then came a deadline deal to Cincinnati, where he took off-posting a .359/.400/.544 line (153 OPS+) over his final 34 games. That’s not just a hot streak; that’s the kind of production that turns heads in front offices across the league.
A Fit in Texas?
The Rangers already boast one of the more lefty-heavy lineups in baseball. Corey Seager, Josh Smith, Brandon Nimmo, Wyatt Langford, and Joc Pederson all swing from the left side. That imbalance makes a right-handed bat like Andújar’s an appealing addition-especially one with his kind of splits.
Against left-handed pitching in 2025, Andújar was lethal, slashing .389/.409/.578. That’s elite-level production, the kind you want in the heart of your lineup when a tough southpaw is on the mound. Even against righties, he held his own with a .290/.331/.429 line.
Beyond the bat, Andújar brings some defensive versatility. Last year, he logged innings at first base, third base, and both corner outfield spots. He’s not going to win a Gold Glove, but that kind of positional flexibility gives a manager options-especially in a long season where injuries and matchups often dictate lineup decisions.
What’s Next?
The Rangers have made it clear that pitching is their top priority this offseason. But that doesn’t mean they’re done looking at ways to improve the roster. Andújar’s bat could be a valuable piece, especially if the price is right and he’s willing to take on a role that might include platoon duties or coming off the bench.
For Texas, this could be a low-risk, high-upside move. Andújar has already shown he can bounce back from adversity, and after a strong 2025, he’s earned another shot to prove he still belongs in an everyday lineup. Whether that opportunity comes in Arlington remains to be seen, but the fit is there-and so is the intrigue.
In a quiet offseason on the position-player front for the Rangers, this is a name worth watching.