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Padres Sign Miguel Andujar: Deal Details & Impact on DH, First Base

by David Thompson - Sports Editor

SAN DIEGO — The Padres have agreed to a one-year contract with veteran infielder/designated hitter Miguel Andujar, sources confirmed Wednesday. The deal, worth $4 million, includes the potential for up to $2 million in performance bonuses.

The agreement brings a proven bat, particularly against left-handed pitching, to a San Diego lineup that struggled in that department last season. Andujar, who will turn 31 in March, split the 2025 season between the Oakland Athletics and the Cincinnati Reds, hitting .318 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs in 94 games. He missed a portion of the season due to an oblique strain.

Andujar’s arrival impacts the Padres’ plans for first base and the designated hitter role. New manager Craig Stammen had indicated that Gavin Sheets was “penciled in” as the primary first baseman, a role Sheets largely filled as the team’s designated hitter last year, making only 11 starts at first base. With Sheets expected to move to first base more regularly, the DH spot becomes available.

The Padres envision Andujar starting at DH against left-handed pitchers and potentially platooning with Sheets at first base, allowing for flexibility in the lineup. Stammen has emphasized that the DH spot will likely be a rotating position, utilized to give regular starters like Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ramón Laureano, and Jackson Merrill occasional rest.

Andujar’s offensive profile is particularly appealing given his success against lefties. Last season, he posted a .986 OPS against southpaws, bringing his career OPS versus left-handed pitchers to .807. This addresses a clear need for the Padres, who produced only a .690 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2025.

While primarily a corner infielder and DH, Andujar has experience at multiple positions, including third base, left field, and even limited time at first base (seven career appearances, four starts). His defensive versatility provides Stammen with additional options.

Despite a strong 2025 campaign, Andujar’s numbers are likely influenced by favorable matchups. However, his skillset aligns well with Petco Park, where pull-happy, right-handed hitters often find success. He doesn’t draw many walks, but consistently makes contact, and possesses enough power to be a threat in the middle of the lineup.

Andujar’s peak came in 2018 with the New York Yankees, where he finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting, hitting .297 with 27 home runs and 92 RBIs. While he hasn’t consistently reached that level since, he remains a productive offensive player.

The signing of Andujar addresses a key offensive need for the Padres, providing a reliable bat against left-handed pitching and adding depth to the lineup. With the offensive pieces largely in place, the team can now focus on bolstering its starting pitching rotation.

The Padres’ rotation currently features Nick Pivetta, Joe Musgrove, and Michael King as front-end starters. However, depth is a concern. Randy Vásquez is expected to compete for a rotation spot, while JP Sears, Matt Waldron, and non-roster invitees Triston McKenzie and Marco Gonzales are also in contention. Concerns surrounding injuries to Musgrove and King further emphasize the need for additional starting pitching.

General manager A.J. Preller has a history of adding a significant starting pitcher after the start of spring training in each of the past four seasons, suggesting that another move to strengthen the rotation is likely. For now, however, the Padres appear to have addressed their most pressing need with the addition of Miguel Andujar.

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