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Miguel Andujar’s agent furious after latest Yankees demotion

Miguel Andujar’s yo-yo-like season between the Yankees and their alternate site isn’t sitting well with his agent. Andujar had finally gotten hot during his most recent call-up — hitting 11-for-31 (.355) with a .975 OPS since Sept. 4 — but he was still optioned to the alternate site Tuesday when the Yankees needed roster spots …

Miguel Andujar’s yo-yo-like season between the Yankees and their alternate site isn’t sitting well with his agent.

Andujar had finally gotten hot during his most recent call-up — hitting 11-for-31 (.355) with a .975 OPS since Sept. 4 — but he was still optioned to the alternate site Tuesday when the Yankees needed roster spots with Gio Urshela, Giancarlo Stanton and Jonathan Loaisiga coming off the injured list.

“Miguel is the first one sent down and never the first one brought back up,” Ulises Cabrera, Andujar’s agent, told The Athletic on Wednesday.

Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada remained on the major league roster Tuesday as the Yankees needed depth at shortstop with Gleyber Torres tending to a left quad issue. But Estrada was also optioned after the game to make room for Aaron Judge’s return.

“Miguel was playing well and I don’t disagree he belongs in the big leagues,” general manager Brian Cashman told The Athletic. “Unfortunately we have a 28-man roster and we needed the middle infield protection.

“Miguel’s a very talented player and it doesn’t make it any easier, but some guys don’t belong down there more than others.”

Yankees infielder/outfielder Miguel Andujar.Robert Sabo

The 2018 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up played just 12 games last season before undergoing surgery on a torn labrum. Urshela captured the job at third base in his absence, becoming a revelation last season and keeping the job during spring training this year.

Andujar has since added left field to his repertoire to become more versatile, but it hasn’t helped the 25-year-old become a mainstay on the Yankees’ big league roster.

“For him not to be playing Major League Baseball games at this stage of the year, especially after he’s just demonstrated that he’s still physically capable of giving a higher level higher than average production, it’s extremely frustrating to not be suiting up every night in New York,” Cabrera said. “Although his dream from the very beginning was to do so in pinstripes, that doesn’t take priority over just playing baseball. Miguel Andujar should be playing for a Major League Baseball team, and a Major League Baseball game tonight.”

There is also the presence of Andjujar’s service time looming. He needed to stay in the minors for just 13 days this season for the Yankees to get an extra year of control, according to The Athletic. He has already passed that mark with the regular season now nearing its end, though manager Aaron Boone has said Andujar’s demotions have had nothing to do with that.

“I think any person who’s involved in the business of baseball understands that there’s a large charade that has continued to be played when it comes to controlling assets, meaning players that are young, and productive,” Cabrera told the website. “It’s clear that it’s highly beneficial for baseball teams to control high quality assets for as long as possible.”

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