San Diego bets on its versatility and offensive power against left-handed pitchers
San Diego.– San Diego Padres reached a one-year agreement with veteran infielder and designated hitter Miguel Andújar, sources told MLB.com. The club has not yet made the official announcement.
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According to journalist Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the contract would be worth
US$4 million, with the possibility of up to
an additional US$2 million in performance incentives.
Andújar, who will turn 31 in March, is coming off a solid performance in the 2025 season with the Athletics and the Reds, in which he recorded a
.318 average and an
OPS of .822. However, a strain in the oblique limited him to 94 games, after missing more than a month of action.
During the past campaign, the Dominican saw action at
first base, third base, and left field, although in San Diego he is projected primarily as a
designated hitter and
pinch hitter, with occasional defensive appearances.
Fit into the San Diego roster
Andújar's arrival gains relevance after manager Craig Stammen expressed that he envisions
Gavin Sheets as the team's starting first baseman. With Sheets occupying that position more regularly, the designated hitter role becomes available, a space that Andújar could take advantage of, especially against left-handed pitchers.
Andújar is expected to be the starting designated hitter against left-handers, with the possibility of alternating at first base, allowing for greater flexibility in the lineup and the inclusion of other right-handed hitters.
However, Stammen anticipated that the designated hitter position will be used on a rotating basis throughout the season, with the aim of keeping key figures such as Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ramón Laureano, and Jackson Merrill fresh.
What Parents Can Expect
Andújar showed a marked performance difference depending on the type of pitcher in 2025, recording an
OPS of .986 against lefties, 227 points above his production against righties. This profiles him as a key piece in situational lineups.
In addition, he has experience and good numbers as a pinch hitter, a role in which he has accumulated an
OPS of .833 in his career. Although he is not a player with many walks, he is distinguished by his contact ability and occasional power, characteristics that could bear fruit at Petco Park.
While it's unlikely he'll replicate the offensive explosion of his rookie season in 2018, when he hit 27 home runs, Andújar brings depth, versatility, and a reliable bat to a roster seeking greater offensive balance for the 2026 campaign.
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