Rangers linked to ex-Yankees ROY candidate coming off career-revival season with Reds

Ten days ago, the Dallas Morning News' Shawn McFarland reported that Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said the Rangers "feel pretty good" about their position players heading into 2026 and that “pitching is the main focus.” While that statement by Young made it seem as if Texas won't add any more bats this offseason, the New York Post's Jon Heyman just linked the team to a right-handed-hitting free agent.

Rangers linked to ex-Yankees ROY candidate Miguel Andújar, who is coming off career-revival season with Reds and Athletics

Andújar, 31 in March, is coming off the best season of his career since 2018, when he posted 2.8 bWAR and a .297/.328/.527 (130 OPS+) slash line with 27 homers and 92 RBI en route to finishing second in American League Rookie of the Year voting behind Shohei Ohtani. He began the 2025 campaign with the Athletics, slashing .298/.329/.436 (111 OPS+) with six homers and 27 RBI in 60 games before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds for right-handed pitcher Kenya Huggins on July 31. He finished the season by hitting .359/.400/.544 (153 OPS+) with four home runs and 17 RBI in 34 games with the Reds.

Andújar, who logged innings at first and third base and both corner outfield positions in 2025, hit righties well last season, slashing .290/.331/.429, while hitting at an MVP-level against southpaws, slashing .389/.409/.578. The Rangers have an abundance of lefties slated to be in their lineup (Corey Seager, Josh Smith, Brandon Nimmo, Wyatt Langford and Joc Pederson). Therefore, adding a right-handed hitter like Andújar would help balance Texas' lineup in 2026.

Andújar had a cup of coffee in the big leagues before his spectacular rookie season, going 4-for-7 with two doubles and four RBI for New York in 2017. During the 2018 playoffs, he went 2-for-10 with two walks.

Andújar's career took a major nosedive after 2018. He missed most of the 2019 season, appearing in just 12 games due to a right labrum tear. Then, due to struggles and more injuries, he appeared in 21 MLB games in 2020 and 45 in 2021. After playing in 27 games with New York in 2022, Andújar was designated for assignment and claimed by the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Andújar played in nine games for the Pirates in 2022, then played in 30 games for the team in 2023, slashing .250/.300/.476 (106 OPS+) with four homers and 18 RBI. Then, the Athletics claimed him off waivers in the 2023-24 offseason. Andújar hit .285/.320/.337 (103 OPS+) in 75 games with the Athletics in 2024.