Yankees Rumors: Miguel Andujar Injury Could Force New York To Explore Replacement Through Trade

The New York Yankees have been forced to deal with several key injuries at the start of the 2019 MLB season, and they received the worst news yet Monday night. What was initially diagnosed as a right shoulder strain for Miguel Andujar was revealed to be a small labrum tear.

Andujar will rest for two weeks, but season-ending surgery is a possibility. Losing the starting third baseman could force the Yankees to make a trade as they look to win their first World Series in a decade.

No Yankee was a more consistent hitter than Andujar in 2018. He was the runner-up for the AL Rookie of the Year award, hitting .297/.328/.527 with 27 home runs in 149 games. At 23 years old, Andujar led New York with 170 hits and 47 doubles.

DJ LeMahieu will probably see the most increase in playing time as a result of Andujar’s injury. After signing a two-year, $24 million contract with the Yankees in the offseason, the veteran was expected to be a super-utility man for the club. It now looks like he’ll be the starting third baseman for the foreseeable future, having spent most of his career at second base.

LeMahieu has four hits in eight at-bats to go along with two walks in the early part of the season. He hit .276/.321/.428 with a career-high 15 home runs in 128 games for the Colorado Rockies last season.

Starting shortstop Didi Gregorius has been set to miss at least the first half of the season because of Tommy John Surgery. Troy Tulowtizki will play most games at shortstop for the first few months of the season with Gleyber Torres starting at second base. Tyler Wade will now get some playing time in the infield after being called up from the minor leagues.

The Yankees will likely be cautious with Andujar, who only recently turned 24 years old and is in his second season with the team.

There were rumors in the offseason that New York might trade Andujar and replace with him Manny Machado in free agency. The Yankees reportedly discussed a three-way trade with the Miami Marlins and New York Mets that would’ve sent Noah Syndergaard to the Bronx. The San Diego Padres reportedly inquired about trading for Andujar before signing Machado to a $300 million contract.

Giancarlo Stanton, Luis Severino and Dellin Betances are among the other Yankees on the injured list in the first week of the season.