Padres inject offensive spark, securing Andujar's bat for a season. Will his proven power finally fill the void left by departed stars?
The San Diego Padres have had a relatively slow offseason.
Despite bringing back pitcher Michael King, the Padres saw Dylan Cease, Luis Arraez and Ryan O'Hearn all leave in free agency and sign elsewhere.
Rockstar GM A.J. Preller is taking his time once again, and the Padres have not added a big bat or power hitter at all, even though February is here.
On Wednesday, that changed a bit. The Padres agreed to a one-year deal with Miguel Andujar.
The deal is for $4 million, but it could be worth another $2 million in incentives, according to a report from MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.
Andujar will be 31 years old when the season begins, but he spent the first six seasons of his MLB career with the New York Yankees.
He also has spent time with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds.
In 2025, Andujar hit .318 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs between his time with the Reds and Athletics.
Arraez just signed a one-year deal with the San Francisco Giants, meaning the Padres definitely needed to add another bat in some way or another.
Right now, the Padres outfield is set with Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ramon Laureano out there.
The infield is likely going to be some form of Gavin Sheets, Jake Cronenworth, Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado with Freddy Fermin behind the plate at catcher.
That leaves the designated hitter spot up for grabs, and it could be given to Luis Campusano depending on how he does in Spring Training.
Also, it could be Sheets at DH with Andujar in a platoon, especially since Sheets is a left-handed hitter and Andujar is a right-handed hitter.
Andujar's best year came with the Yankees in 2018, when he hit 27 home runs with 92 RBIs in 149 games, which is the most he has played in his MLB career.
Andujar could play several positions across the field, but this figures to be a platoon signing to give San Diego some more insurance and new manager Craig Stammen another veteran presence in the locker room.
Last offseason, the Padres struck gold late by signing pitcher Nick Pivetta to a friendly four-year deal, and perhaps Preller and San Diego are waiting around to see what other bargain-bin free agents they can find this time.
So far, it is Andujar, and it wouldn't be surprising if the Padres add another player or two in the next couple of weeks.