Miguel Andujar proved to be a solid pickup for the San Diego Padres, but he is now choosing to enter free agency.
Andujar signed a $4 million deal with the Padres last offseason and had an $8 million mutual option for 2027. The Padres announced that he declined his half of the option, and he will receive a $2.5 million buyout. The 31-year-old will be looking to cash in after two very strong seasons.
This year, he posted a .726 OPS in 74 games, serving primarily as a designated hitter. He had only 81 plate appearances against left-handed pitching, but he played very well against right-handers.
In 2025, he posted an .822 OPS in 94 games between the Cincinnati Reds and the Athletics. In 2018, he finished as the American League Rookie of the Year Award runner-up, but things had not gone his way since. He had played in just 219 games from 2019-2023, with a .647 OPS.
The last two years have been resurgent for him, and even though he is not the player he was as a rookie, he can be a valuable piece for a team in search of a veteran bat. He is not going to provide much on defense, but he clearly thinks he can find a better deal than a one-year, $8 million commitment with the Padres.
With a lockout looming, Andujar could sign earlier than free agents of his caliber have in the past, but he should still linger around until the final wave of signings.