Yulieski Gurriel remains a fascinating piece of the transactional picture as the deadline approaches, and Jon Heyman of todaysknuckleball.com writes that his market is heating up. The Marlins held a workout with the Cuban star, per the report, with the Giants also showing “strong interest” — though they’ve yet to host him for an up-close look.
We’ve already heard of San Francisco’s possible involvement, which GM Bobby Evans downplayed in recent comments. Other reports have connected the infielder to the Dodgers, Astros, Mets and Yankees, all of whom have held workouts. Heyman notes also that the Red Sox have taken a look, though he adds that Boston isn’t seen as being a likely destination.
The 32-year-old Gurriel is a legend in his home nation, where he has been one of the best players since reaching Serie Nacional as a teenager. And he also showed well in a brief stint in Japan’s NPB two years back. With an advanced bat and polished glove that’s capable of slotting in at third, second, and perhaps the corner outfield, it’s not hard to imagine a fit with many organizations.
Gauging his value is another matter. While there’s some possibility that he’ll be viewed as a deadline addition of sorts, the expectation is that Gurriel will need a decent bit of time to get up to speed in the minors after a long layoff from competitive action. That uncertainty leaves some room for variability.
Rival executives tell Heyman that Gurriel is looking for a deal that would cover this season and four more thereafter. His camp seems to be seeking something in the range of $10MM to $12MM per year, with one source telling Heyman that it wouldn’t be surprising if the veteran could achieve between $40MM and $50MM in total guarantee over a three or four-year term.
MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk recently examined the possible market for Gurriel’s services, though that piece was written before the recent connections were reported. He and Steve Adams suggested that the contract given to Hector Olivera by the Dodgers (about $10MM annually) as a comparable. In this case, though, a shorter length (given his age) and perhaps a greater AAV (given his better pedigree and the market situation) are certainly possible.
I hope the Mets sign him.
hello Metsies! Gourriel’s salary expectation seems like a bargain. open the wallet already, the season is wasting away…
Get it done Luhnow! We need another bad in our order.
You already have a couple of bads in your order. Sorry couldn’t resist.
He is an Astro. He is going to handle 3b and add another bat to their lineup. Having Marwin Gonzalez and Luis Valbuena coming from the bench is a luxury.
Yeah Astros sign him and take Hector Olivera with you
What happens to Bregman then if Gurriel plays 3rd for the next few years? I thought they were grooming him to play 3rd
They will give him the Trea Turner treatment and mothball him in AAA.
I think the Astros may view Bregman as a Zobrist-type player. Once he establishes himself as an everyday player, only then will Houston reserve a spot for Bregman.
This guy will be a flop. A 32 year old question mark who hasn’t played in 2 years? No thanks.
According to baseball reference, he played in 2015.
You know he played in Japan last year right?