Veteran third baseman Juan Uribe remains available in free agent as the market for infielders has continued to move slowly. He’s been a consistently productive player since turning around his fading career in 2013, putting up a .281/.329/.432 slash while averaging about a dozen home runs over 400 plate appearances annually since that time. And while defensive metrics didn’t view him as a huge contributor with the glove last year, as they had in the two prior seasons, Uribe factors as a positive in the field. Of course, he’s also closing in on 37 years of age.
Here’s the latest:
- The Giants have had talks with Uribe’s camp, says Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Twitter link). San Francisco obviously doesn’t have a starting role available, but could conceivably use Uribe at third, second, and even first. But the asking price remains too steep for San Francisco’s liking, Olney says.
- As far as Uribe’s negotiating stance goes, Olney adds in another tweet that his reps are telling teams that they are willing to “discuss salaries at two different scales.” The ask would be higher if the team proposes to use him as a regular, as opposed to a bench piece. With the Indians said to be looking at Uribe as a fairly significant contributor, it isn’t clear exactly how this line of thinking will impact the ultimate results.
- The Yankees ought to consider making a play for Uribe to occupy the roster spot that might have gone to injured youngster Greg Bird, Joel Sherman of the New York Post suggests. New York hasn’t done so as of yet, Sherman notes, but ought to pursue a deal with the versatile defender. With Alex Rodriguez functioning as a bat-only player — a point which GM Brian Cashman made abundantly clear — Sherman suggests that flexibility is a higher need than another power hitter in the infield mix.
Didn’t they make it clear that Bird wasn’t expected to start on the 25 man roster, so there is no spot open to fill? I understood that the first time it was printed. You would think Shermann would be able to read and understand it also. Uribe won’t have to accept a minor league contract, and he won’t want to be depth, waiting in AAA.
sherman also considered uribe a power bat…
Uribe is a good clubhouse presence wherever he goes
It would seems from everything I’ve read and even the article above that the soon to be 37 year old Uribe is pricing himself out of the market whether it’s just dollars or wanting more than a one year deal it looks like there isn’t much of a market to Uribe.
At least people are talking/speculating about Uribe considering there’s no news on David Freese that has to be a decent sign for Uribe
Uribe is willing to accept a one year deal or back up role. David may have to wait until spring training because I don’t expect his price to drop
This will sound funny, but with Bird out, can ARod play any first to back up Tex? That way he isn’t just a DH? I would think he could convert over to First Base.
You need to read Cashman’s quote in the linked article.
They’d be better off playing 8 guys in the field
I don’t think the Indians want to give him more than a minor league with incentives/major league deal with incentives at a low base price. It seems like every team is offering that but no one is willing to bring up the price. I still think Uribe will get in the way of Urshela developing
The angels would be a nice fit for Uribe, a veteran in the clubhouse and he can come up with big hits at the right times.
To me it boils down to giving a MLB roster spot to either Uribe or Ackley. I think I’d lean to Uribe in that instance, see what can be done with Ackley. Also, if Uribe would go to NY, would Headley be open to playing 1B occasionally depending on the match up? I like Uribe a lot and think he’d be great in the clubhouse; give Refsnyder/Gregorious/Castro another veteran presence.