"First, Isiah Kiner-Falefa signed with the Boston Red Sox, making us wonder ... is he their big last move on the positional side? Then, the biggest remaining free agent starter, Framber Valdez, signed a short-term, high-AAV deal with the Tigers ... who are hours away from learning the outcome of their potentially record-setting arbitration hearing with Tarik Skubal. And now, a smaller, but directly Cubs-connected free agent utility player, Miguel Andujar, is signing a one-year, $4M deal with the Padres."
"According to Jon Heyman, the Padres got Miguel Andujar on just a one-year, $4M deal with a mutual option (and his salary in 2026 is just $1.5M). That's a little less than I thought he would be able to command, but not exceedingly so. It's also more small-dollar activity from the Padres, who may have gotten over their skis (financially) a bit these last 4-5 offseasons."
"As for the player, Andujar has had some significant success in the past, including an AL Rookie of the Year runner-up finish behind Shohei Ohtani in 2018, but injuries and surgeries have slowed him down significantly since then. Even still, he crushes lefties, is cheap, isn't old, and has some dormant, previously-realized upside. If the Padres really are strapped for cash, this was a nice, affordable upside play for them."
Isiah Kiner-Falefa signed with the Boston Red Sox. Framber Valdez signed a short-term, high-AAV deal with the Detroit Tigers while the Tigers await the outcome of Tarik Skubal's arbitration hearing. Miguel Andujar signed a one-year, $4M deal with the San Diego Padres that includes a mutual option and a 2026 salary of $1.5M. The Padres continue small-dollar roster additions after several high-spending offseasons. Andujar was an AL Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2018 but has since been slowed by injuries and surgeries. He performs strongly versus left-handed pitching and has experience at third base, left field, right field, and first base, with 121 wRC+ versus lefties.
Read at Bleacher Nation
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