Padres’ lineup fix might be sitting in the most overlooked corner of the market

Save for the addition of versatile KBO star Sung-mun Song, the San Diego Padres have largely failed to address their offensive failings this offseason.

Yes, the rotation was a bigger need, and re-signing Michael King was the rightful priority. But when the Padres fell short of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card Round, it was their offense that scored all of five runs in three games. This remains a huge hole on the roster.

Namely, first base remains wide open after Ryan O'Hearn left via free agency (and Luis Arraez remains lingering on the market). By extension, the designated hitter spot is also up for grabs, though 2025 breakout hitter Gavin Sheets appears to at least have the inside track on a platoon role.

With a largely unsettled bench, the Padres could afford to give Sheets a DH partner if it means boosting the offense, especially against left-handed pitching. And, after a blistering second half with the Cincinnati Reds, that's exactly what Miguel Andujar can bring to San Diego.

Padres, Miguel Andujar are a strong late-offseason match in free agency

Andujar has had an up-and-down career, posting a 129 wRC+ and 76 extra-base hits as a rookie in 2019 before submitted below-average results in each of the next four seasons. He settled into a part-time role in 2023 and performed reasonably well, though he re-exploded onto the scene in 2025 with the Athletics and Reds.

It's hard to overstate how good he was 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.

His defense is laughably bad everywhere on the diamond at this point, and now that he's 30 years old, that isn't changing. Whoever signs him next will be doing so for his bat, likely with an eye on him starting at DH.

And, truth be told, that's a perfect situation for the Padres. Sheets had a nice breakout in 2025, but he wasn't so dominant that he's earned himself a guaranteed spot in the starting lineup this year. His greatest weakness is hitting southpaws, something that Andujar excels at; in fact, perhaps it's more accurate to say that Andujar is elite at that particular skill, considering he assaulted left-handed pitchers to the tune of a .389/.409/.578 slash line and 171 wRC+ last season.

Whether or not San Diego can scratch together enough change to pay a platoon designated hitter is a valid question, and one that could render this entire discussion moot. In terms of talent and fit, though, Miguel Andujar is as good as it gets at this point of the offseason.