Top Landing Spots for Free Agent Miguel Andújar

Andújar is now entering free agency, looking to prove to everyone that 2025 was not a mirage and land on a team that will be able to provide him ample opportunity to surpass the 100-game played mark he hasn’t sniffed since his rookie year.

Free Agent Profile: Miguel Andújar

• Age in 2026: 31
• 2025 Stats: 94 G, 341 PA, .318/.352/.470, 10 HR, 44 RBI, 125 wRC+, 1.1 fWAR
• 2025 Salary: $3 million
• Qualifying Offer Eligibility: No

Contract Projection

• Contract Length Expectation: 1-3 years
• Expected AAV: $5-8 million

Even coming off a big year, Andújar still is not projected to command a high dollar amount in free agency. He is going to provide the team that signs him with some defensive versatility as well, having played first base, third base, and even some outfield just last season alone.

While he looks to likely serve a utility/reserve role for a contending team, which is likely, he is going to serve a key role for them as they make a play for the postseason in 2026.

Free Agent Landing Spots for Miguel Andújar

Cincinnati Reds

I mentioned this earlier in this article, but the fans in Cincinnati fell in love with Andújar and what he did for them down the stretch. How could you blame them?

Andújar helped lead the Cincinnati Reds into the postseason for the first time since 2020, when they faced the Braves in the Wild Card Series. Although he served primarily as their designated hitter, in large part due to the fact that he was dealing with a quad injury, he continued to produce consistently for this lineup when they needed it most.

As it currently stands, there isn’t a clear opening for Andújar to immediately slide into a starting spot, but that doesn’t mean he can’t serve a role for them. As it stood this past season, they chose to trade for him at the deadline despite having traded for Ke’Bryan Hayes earlier in the year.

Though the deal may come at the cost of a multi-year one, the financial commitment should not keep the Reds out of the race. Especially if both parties enjoyed their short time together.

Detroit Tigers

There is currently much buzz in the city of Detroit after the past two seasons that they have had. Aside from all of the rumors surrounding the future of Tarik Skubal, Tigers fans should be excited for the core of the team that is currently constructed.

Now that Gleyber Torres accepted the qualifying offer, he’ll be back for another go-round in Detroit. With him back in the picture, Andújar and Zach McKinstry could easily form a platoon at third base since the former demolishes left-handed pitching and the latter swings the bat from the left side. The value from these two players comes from their versatility.

Should the Tigers strike out on Alex Bregman again, Colt Keith could soak up at-bats all around the infield, and the Tigers could use the two versatile pieces to fill the lineup strategically to take advantage of matchups throughout the year. A low-cost signing like Miguel Andújar would also allow the Tigers to allocate money to other needs across the roster.

Kansas City Royals

If the Royals are serious about making the postseason, they need to make moves to improve their offense. It seems as if they have tried to piece together their lineup with cheap options for the past couple of years, so that would make Andújar a realistic option for them.

The Royals have been rumored to want to bring back Mike Yastrzemski after they acquired him last year. While he is a strong option against right-handed pitching, he is virtually unplayable against lefties. Luckily for Andújar, he has been successful against southpaws in his career.

A player who’s a career .297/.332/.475 hitter against lefties would fill that role admirably for the Royals. Even if it isn’t to platoon with Yaz, Andújar would be a solid option to give Vinnie Pasquantino a breather when he needs a day off. The need comes even just one year after they tried to fill a similar void last offseason after swapping Brady Singer for Jonathan India.

Andújar could also provide the Royals with a strong platoon option to John Rave, who is currently projected to start in left field for Kansas City.

Pittsburgh Pirates

This is not going to be the type of investment that Pirates fans are going to want to see out of this front office, but it is going to be a realistic option, knowing how they tend to operate financially.

The recent reports are that the Pirates brass is ready to commit financially to this roster, but it is one of those “I’ll believe it when I see it” type of situations for me. Luckily for us, there is familiarity here, even if it ended in 2023 with the Pirates putting Andújar on waivers at the end of that season.

The benefit of bringing Andújar back to Pittsburgh is that he can play each of the positions the Pirates are currently lacking at, even if his defense is not his calling card. Andújar would also help to improve the league’s worst offense against left-handed pitching in 2025.

At the end of the day, the Pirates need to prove to not just their fanbase, but their face of the franchise that they are willing to commit financially to the roster. Even if that starts with a smaller, multi-year deal with Miguel Andújar.

Seattle Mariners

What is fun and ideal about this fit is that the addition of Andújar should come, even after the recent news of the Mariners bringing back first baseman Josh Naylor. Considering this does not project to be an expensive deal, Andújar could wear a Mariners uniform in 2026. Even more so if they are unable to bring back their postseason hero, Jorge Polanco.

A signing of Andújar is not going to be as flashy as the trades the Mariners made at the deadline for Eugenio Suarez and Naylor, but it would fill a void for what they currently have projected to start at their corner infield positions entering the 2026 season.

Ben Williamson is currently projected to start at third base for the Mariners. While he serves as a capable option off the bench, he should not be the only starting option at third base, especially for one who made it all the way to the ALCS. Aside from third, Andújar would be a good backup for Naylor at first base when he needs a day off. Both could also alternate at the DH spot in the lineup.

They need to find a way to break through and reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

It is incredibly rare for a team to have a five-man rotation locked and loaded for a deep postseason run. While the offense made significant strides during the 2025 season, largely on the back of the MVP runner-up, Cal Raleigh, they should look to continue to build and supplement their offense with pieces to keep that level of consistency throughout the entirety of the season.