MLB trade rumors: Yankees' Miguel Andujar intrigues AL West club

Tom Gatto

MLB trade rumors: Yankees' Miguel Andujar intrigues AL West club image

The Yankees find themselves with depth at third base this offseason. They reportedly have an interested party if they want to deal some of it.

MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reported Sunday that the Rangers are "intrigued" by possibly trading for Miguel Andujar, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury that required surgery. Sullivan added that the Yankees "would expect much in a trade" but offered no specifics. He speculated that a relief pitcher could be part of the return.

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Andujar, 24, established himself as an offensive threat in 2018 with 27 home runs and a 130 wRC+ in 149 games. His defense is his primary liability: He recorded minus-25 defensive runs saved in '18.

He was limited to 12 games in 2019 with the injury. Andujar's absence cleared the way for Gio Urshela, a vastly superior fielder, to have a breakout season at the plate (21 home runs, 132 wRC+) in his Age 27 season.

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Texas isn't limiting itself to the trade market as it tries to fill a need at the hot corner. Sullivan noted that the Rangers are also interested in signing free agents Anthony Rendon and Josh Donaldson, but Rendon might prove too expensive and an Andujar trade would allow them to use some of that money to address other roster needs.

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.