AUTO FOCUS
Andujar stays positive through chatter
TAMPA — At this time last February, Brandon Drury had recently been acquired from the Diamondbacks to play third base and make a minor league third baseman out of Miguel Andujar.
Ever since the end of last year’s World Series, the Yankees were linked to free agent Manny Machado. If he had signed with the Yankees, Andujar would have been traded, shifted to first base or optioned to the minors.
Well, Andujar took over for Drury early in 2018 when the latter faced concussion issues and played well enough that Drury was eventually dealt to the Blue Jays for J.A. Happ. Andujar finished the season second in the AL Rookie of the Year race thanks to a .297 average, 27 homers, 92 RBIs and an .855 OPS.
Still, Machado’s name and the Yankees were mentioned often by outsiders until Machado agreed Tuesday to a whopping 10-year deal for $300 million with the Padres. That meant Andujar, who turns 24 early next month, remained the Yankees’ third baseman.
“First of all, I want to congratulate Manny, $300 million, wow,’’ Andujar said Wednesday at George M. Stenbrenner Field via a translator. “I always stay positive and focus on my responsibilities.’’
Between watching Greg Bird hit at the minor league complex earlier this month and in two days of full-squad workouts, Aaron Boone has noticed a difference in the left-handed hitting first baseman’s time in the batter’s box.
“Definitely, a noticeable difference,’’ Boone said. “He has added some weight in a good way. Clearly he feels like he is through some of the physical things that were holding him back a little bit last year. There is a different way in which he is impacting the ball this year.’’
In the early days of pitchers and catchers, CC Sabathia participated in the running program but not the fielding drills, in order to make sure he wasn’t rushed back from right knee surgery. Tuesday and Wednesday the veteran lefty didn’t run but played catch in the outfield before the full-squad workout.
According to Boone, Sabathia hasn’t suffered a setback.