Andujar Declines Padres Option, Becomes Free Agent

The 31-year-old infielder-outfielder, who spent six seasons with the Yankees, is now available to all 30 MLB teams after a wrist injury limited his 2026 season.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Baseball

Photograph of an empty baseball infield at dusk with a bat lying across the base path and a chalk foul line stretching toward the outfield fence. — Miguel Andujar declined his end of a mutual option with the San Diego Padres on November 2, becoming a free agent available to all 30 MLB teams. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Miguel Andujar declined his end of a mutual option with the San Diego Padres on November 2, making him an MLB free agent. Any of the 30 MLB teams can now sign him.

Why it matters

Andujar's departure from San Diego opens his services to the open market after a 2026 season cut short by injury. His free-agent status gives MLB clubs the chance to pursue a player with prior production in the American League.

Andujar batted .273 with 35 home runs and 122 RBI in 259 games with the Yankees and posted a 104 OPS+. His 2026 Padres deal guaranteed $4 million, including $1.5 million in salary and a $2.5 million buyout.

The players

Miguel Andujar

Andujar is a 31-year-old infielder-outfielder who spent his first six MLB seasons with the New York Yankees before joining the San Diego Padres.

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball franchise based in San Diego, California, and the club that held the mutual option Andujar declined.

Lucas Erceg

Lucas Erceg is a pitcher whose wayward pitch fractured Andujar's right wrist during the 2026 season.

The details

Andujar played 74 games for the Padres in 2026 before his season was limited by injury, after a wayward Lucas Erceg pitch fractured his right wrist. He spent over two months on the injured list before returning for the Padres' playoff run.

Andujar made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2017.
He played with the Yankees through the 2022 season.
He played 74 games for the Padres during the 2026 season before injury.
He returned from injury for the Padres' 2026 playoff run.
He declined his mutual option and became a free agent on November 2, 2026.

Roadmap

Andujar's trajectory follows the pattern of role players whose production with one club does not carry over after a change of teams and an injury setback. His Yankees tenure, which included 35 home runs in 259 games, set a benchmark that his 2026 Padres season did not reach because of the wrist injury.

Any of the 30 MLB teams can now sign Andujar, which could change the roster and bench picture for a club looking for a corner infield or outfield option. Fantasy managers tracking his 2026 health should note that he returned from a wrist fracture before the Padres' playoff run.

The takeaway

Andujar's free-agent status means his next team will set his role, so tracking which club signs him will clarify how much everyday playing time he gets. Readers following MLB transactions should watch for the signing as the offseason progresses.