Miguel Andujar’s pivotal season ended on a sour note and leaves some uncertainty.
On Wednesday, Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay announced that Andujar, now playing left field, will undergo season-ending core muscle surgery. This raises the question: did Andujar do enough to secure a spot on the A’s roster for next season?
Despite the premature end to his season, Andujar can view this year as a partial success, as he reasserted his status as a major-league player, even if he’s an average one who might not be an everyday starter.
In 2024, Andujar racked up 320 plate appearances, the highest total since his rookie year with the New York Yankees in 2018 when he had 606. He had 140 plate appearances in 2022 and 90 in 2023.
With the A’s, Andujar was particularly effective against left-handed pitchers, posting a .404/.452/.526 line with a home run in 62 plate appearances. Overall, he had a .285/.320/.377 line (102 OPS+) with four home runs and 30 RBIs.
Andujar earned $1.7 million this year and has one more arbitration year before hitting free agency. The question remains whether the A’s will keep him for 2025, especially considering their budget constraints.
According to MLB Trade Rumors:
Andujar has surpassed five years of major league service, which means he’d be eligible for a modest raise if the A’s want to retain him for his final arbitration year. The A’s have no guaranteed contracts for next season, with only Brent Rooker being notable among their arbitration-eligible players, who is going through the process for the first time. Given the A’s flexibility with their payroll, they could afford to keep Andujar if they believe he has further potential.
Andujar was signed by the Yankees as an international free agent in July 2011 and developed in their system as a third baseman before his tenure ended after six MLB seasons. In 2022, he was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
