Impending Reds free agent should be on Cincy's radar even if the fit is tricky

The Cincinnati Reds' season ended with a couple of duds against the superior talents of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but making the playoffs for the first time since 2020 was an important step forward for the franchise in Terry Francona's first year as manager.

Of course, now that the team is out of contention for the Commissioner's Trophy, offseason preparations have begun. Though a number of impending free agents almost certainly won't be brought back, the front office will need to make a few decisions on players who earned their long-term spot with the team.

In particular, trade acquisition Miguel Andujar remains a curious case. A versatile player who played all four corner infield and outfield positions in 2025, Andujar's defense continues to be a pain point as he ages out of his 20s; he totaled -7 Outs Above Average this season.

Nevertheless, he was one of the most important bats in the team's lineup in the second half, and there's a good case that the Reds need his offensive output to remain competitive with the likes of the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

Miguel Andujar's janky fit with Reds shouldn't impede a return

It's true that, at this point in his career, Andujar is probably a DH-only player. In a vacuum, that doesn't condemn him to baseball purgatory (see: Kyle Schwarber), but his fit with the Reds in particular is hard to make out.

There's already a first base competition going on between Spencer Steer and Sal Stewart, and there's simply not enough room in a lineup for the seven outfielders (not including Andujar) currently on the Reds' 40-man roster.

It's also going to be hard to justify paying Andujar his market value, given that he's now 30 years old and coming off the best half of his career.

That being said, he was really good in a Reds uniform. A .359/.400/.544 slash line isn't something you can easily replicate, and his 159 wRC+ ranked 14th among all MLB hitters with at least 100 plate appearances between August 1 and the end of the season.

Plus, the Reds' payroll is set to clear up a lot this winter, with the $30+ million AAV assigned to Nick Martinez, Emilio Pagan, and Wade Miley all heading toward free agency. There's absolutely room for the Reds to bring back both Andujar and Zack Littell (a fellow trade deadline pickup) without breaking the bank, though it could hinder their flexibility to make other moves for 2026.

As such, this will be an ongoing conversation in the Reds' organization over the next month and change. At his best, Andujar's bat is invaluable, and it's one the team can ill-afford to lose.

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