Miguel Andujar, Lucas Giolito, Griffin Canning Enter Free Agency After Declined Mutual Options

The Padres announced that Miguel Andujar and right-handers Lucas Giolito and Griffin Canning are all now free agents. San Diego declined its end of mutual options with Giolito and Canning, while Andujar declined his end of a mutual option. Andujar will receive a $2.9MM buyout from his declined $8MM mutual option, Giolito’s $8MM mutual option came with a $1.5MM buyout, and Canning’s $5MM mutual option has a $1.8MM buyout. Mutual options are rarely exercised by both sides, so there was no surprise in any of these decisions. Had Andujar picked up his end of the $8MM option, it is likely the Padres would’ve declined theirs, so Andujar might have just been expediting the process. Andujar signed a one-year deal with the Padres last winter worth $4MM in guaranteed money ($1.5MM in salary and $2.5MM via the buyout). Over 254 plate appearances, Andujar hit .259/.303/.423 with five homers, but he spent over two months on the injured list after a wayward Lucas Erceg pitch fractured his right wrist. The injury ended Andujar’s regular season but he was able to return for the playoffs, going 0-for-3 with a walk in four pinch-hit appearances during San Diego’s postseason run. The Padres used Andujar mostly as a DH in 2026, with only a few appearances at the corner infield slots. Andujar has a good deal of experience in left field and a handful of games as a right fielder over his 10 MLB seasons, though his reputation as a lefty-masher took a hit when he delivered pedestrian numbers against southpaws this year. As he enters his age-32 season, Andujar is likely again looking at a one-year deal with a low guarantee, with teams in need of somewhat versatile platoon help seeking out his services. A reunion with the Padres isn’t out of the question, as the Friars don’t have a set answer in left field and could use some infield or DH depth. Likewise, re-signing Canning or Giolito is a possibility since the Padres have plenty of holes to fill in both the rotation and bullpen. More to come… View Comments (3)