Cardinals Unveil Unexpected Right-Handed Hitting Sensation Poised to Transform the Team

The buzz is hard to ignore this week: the St. Louis Cardinals are eyeing Miguel Andujar, a versatile free agent who can swing both infield and outfield gloves. Jon Heyman broke the news in the New York Post, revealing the Cards aren’t alone in their pursuit but certainly showing noteworthy interest. Chaim Bloom, speaking on 1120 KMOX’s “Sports On A Sunday Morning” with Tom Ackerman, made it clear—the team wants a right-handed bat capable of filling multiple defensive spots. Andujar fits the bill perfectly, having logged reps at first, third base, left field, and right field during his MLB tenure.

What’s intriguing here isn’t just Andujar’s flexibility but his potency against lefty pitching—a critical edge for Manager Oli Marmol’s 2026 lineup. Last season, Andujar unleashed a .389/.409/.578 slash line over 93 plate appearances vs. left-handers, boasting a .986 OPS, a .421 wOBA, and an impressive 171 wRC+. Among right-handed hitters with at least 90 plates against southpaws, he ranked fifth best in the big leagues, trailing only stars like Aaron Judge and Ivan Herrera.

For a Cardinals lineup stacked with left-handed hitters—a cast featuring the likes of Alec Burleson, Nolan Gorman, Lars Nootbaar, JJ Wetherholt, Victor Scott II, and possibly Brendan Donovan—Andujar’s right-handed power adds necessary balance and punch during those challenging lefty matchups. And here’s the kicker: aside from Ivan Herrera and Nolan Gorman, nobody else on the current roster cracked a wRC+ over 100 against lefties last season with enough plate appearances to count.

Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Andujar’s defensive limitations. His positional versatility comes with a caveat—he struggled in the field, posting a -7 Outs Above Average last year. Still, he wields a cannon of an arm, averaging 92 mph throws from the outfield, a skill that could turn heads and lock down extra bases, especially if paired with players like Walker. The outfield range might be questionable, yet with smart positioning, those strong throws can tip the scales.

From a financial standpoint, Fangraphs predicts a one-year, $5.5 million deal for Andujar, but with Geno’s keen interest, the Cards might need to sweeten the pot a bit—think performance bonuses or perhaps a 2027 option—to seal the deal. The fit seems right, the opportunity clear, but the question remains whether the numbers line up. Only time will tell if Chaim Bloom pulls this one off.

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Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Monday that the Cardinals, among other teams, were showing “significant interest” in free agent INF/OF Miguel Andujar. Chaim Bloom has stated publicly in his spots on 1120 KMOX during the “Sports On A Sunday Morning” show with Tom Ackerman that he would like to add a right-handed hitter who can handle both infield and outfield responsibilities. Andujar has seen time in his big league career at 1B, 3B, LF, and RF.

Though not particularly known for his defensive work, what Andujar does very well is crush left-handed pitching, and that would give Manager Oli Marmol an additional weapon to use in his lineup in 2026. Last season in 93 plate appearances against LHP Andjuar slashed .389/.409/.578 -> .986 OPS. He also produced a wOBA of .421 and a wRC+ of 171. Among RHH who had a minimum 90 plate appearances against LHP, Miguel Andujar ranked 5th in all of baseball with his 171 wRC+ behind Aaron Judge (225), Ivan Herrera (205), Shea Langeliers (184), and Byron Buxton (178).

For a lineup that will feature a heavy left-handed presence such as Alec Burleson, Nolan Gorman, Lars Nootbaar, JJ Wetherholt, Victor Scott II, and possibly Brendan Donovan, adding some reliable balance and punch to the lineup on days that the Cardinals face off against a tough lefty makes all the sense in the world. Among the remaining hitters on the roster, only TWO had a wRC+ above 100 last season against LHP, with a minimum of 90 plate appearances: Ivan Herrera and Nolan Gorman.

Defensively, Andujar is very limited. He has the positional versatility to stand in various positions, but his -7 oAA last season leaves a lot to be desired. However, the one defensive tool Andujar does possess is a well-above-average throwing arm, averaging over 92 MPH on his throws from the outfield. Between him and Walker, the range in the outfield would be suspect at best, but if either can play deep and keep the ball in front of them, they can accumulate assists and gun down runners trying to take extra bases.

Fangraphs projects a 1 year 5.5 million contract for Andujar. Given the amount of interest in the player, the Cardinals would probably have to raise that offer just a smidge and perhaps be willing to include performance-based incentives, and perhaps an option for 2027 to get the deal across the finish line. The opportunity for a player of Andujar’s profile exists on the current roster and should be attractive to Andujar’s camp. The only question that remains is the financial compononet and we will see in the coming days/weeks whether or not Chaim Bloom can get it across the finish line.

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