The Marlins are “moving toward” a deal with free agent Yuli Gurriel, according to Mark Feinsand and Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. No deal has been finalized yet, and Miami isn’t the only club involved, as Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extra Base reports that the Twins are also in on Gurriel.
The Marlins had been the only previously reported team interested in the former Astro, so it’s no surprise that they’re front and center as Gurriel’s market heats up a bit. Miami and Minnesota just joined forces on a trade this week that sent Luis Arraez to South Beach, the Marlins are planning to deploy Arraez at second base (moving Jazz Chisholm Jr. to center fielder), thus leaving some room for Gurriel to help out at first base. Of course, Garrett Cooper is Miami’s incumbent first baseman, and both he and Gurriel are right-handed hitters, making for a less-than-ideal platoon fit. Jorge Soler is another right-handed bat who looks to be the first choice at DH, leaving fewer at-bats for manager Skip Schumaker to potentially find for Gurriel.
In terms of pure playing-time fit, the Twins might be a better option for Gurriel, as the left-handed hitting Alex Kirilloff looks to be moving into first base duty and Minnesota doesn’t have a set designated hitter. Of course, any number of factors could be impacting Gurriel’s ongoing decision process about choosing his next team, including the fact that Gurriel has a home in Miami.
Gurriel hit free agency this winter after seven seasons in Houston. The 38-year-old had some very strong seasons with the Astros, but his production dipped off significantly in 2022. Last year, he hit just .242/.288/.360 with eight home runs over 584 plate appearances. That was good for a wRC+ of just 85, about 15 percent below average and well down from the 132 mark he put up just a year prior. There also wasn’t much to like about Gurriel’s Statcast numbers, apart from the fact that he remains one of baseball’s tougher hitters to strike out.
At Gurriel’s age, a sudden dropoff in productivity isn’t unexpected, yet his 2021 success is still so fresh that the Marlins, Twins, or perhaps other teams might think a rebound is still possible. In regards to the Fish, Gurriel’s ability to avoid strikeouts is a valued skill for a club that went into the winter looking to add contact hitting, with the Arraez trade standing out as how the Marlins are trying to achieve that goal.
Dude is done lmao at the Marlins.
But he’ll still play more games than Garrett Cooper.
So? Bad production helps how?
Bad production is better than no production that will happen when Mr. Injured List Cooper is on his annual leave with some skin soreness, hair follicle strain, labial growth, or whatever other chronic injury thing he will inevitably deal with this year.
Bad production is not better than anything else. You know nothing about baseball
@davidk1979
Ahhh, you’re back to trolling. I know more baseball than you. If you and I got on the field and played right now, I’d destroy you in the game. You get on a mound and I’d launch any one of your 50 MPH max-effort fastballs at distances you can’t imagine. You get in the box, I’d strike you out with my weak arm using underhand pitches with a softball. You think video games and fantasy league taught you baseball? Go back to MLB the Show so you can be a player and watch your Mets actually win something.
Bad production helps keep salary down!
@S_man_2014
In this case, it represents someone actually being on the field…which Cooper has a problem with doing.
If that’s the case, why not DFA’s him like they did with Brian Anderson?
I have said the same thing many times on these boards.
david – Take at look at his numbers year by year, if the pattern of every-other-year great production continues, he’s due for a very good year.
Bad production is ALWAYS better than no production. No one is bad ALL the time. Bad players sometimes have good days which can help teams win games. But a player that is not playing can never help you win a game.
So maybe it is you that knows nothing about baseball.
What a imbecilic delusional comment! And a Marlins fan talking about winning? Lmao
Cooper played the second most games on the Marlins last year and has a career 114 ops. Definite have bigger problems than him.
That bum doesn’t understand stats
He’s 38-39 its over for him
@david1979
First, I don’t know baseball, and now I don’t know stats?
Go back to your video games and fantasy league draft.
Just a year ago this guy had the highest batting average in the league. If he comes anywhere close to that and the Marlins don’t pay much, its a steal.
This move is a bit confounding to me only because it seems they are dropping a solid UTL guy for a much older, more limited version of him.
Perhaps I am wrong and he fits into a bigger puzzle that’s not clear to non-Marlins fans?
What Utility guy are we dropping?
Didn’t they walk away from BA? Sorry, “dropping” was not the correct term. I should’ve written they chose to sign Yuli instead of re-sign BA. My bad.
Yeah, they non-tendered BA, which I felt there were so many other guys that they should have non-tendered instead of him – such as Garrett Cooper.
When/if they sign Yuli, they will drop someone else off the 40, but it most likely will be a useless pitcher.
Got ya. Okay, I always liked BA. Personally, I would take him over Yuli. Be nice to see the Marlins swing another big trade with someone. They certainly have the prospect talent.
Yuli’s only possible value at this point is as the right-handed side of a platoon. Garrett Cooper is younger and more productive. And Brian Anderson is basically a bench bat. He only started for the past few years because he was on these weak Marlins teams. Cooper had an OPS almost 100 points higher last year, 752 to 657. You’re wrong as usual.
@Hammerin Hank
Yeah, what do I know considering that I watched both BA and Cooper every game.
BA was injured very badly the last two years. Cooper is a walking Injured List.
While Cooper is younger and probably better than Gurriel at this point, odds are that Cooper will be on the IL and Gurriel will be on the field.
Gurriel is certainly on the downstroke, but the guy is a part of baseball royalty, as they have said elsewhere. A tremendous amount of respect for the family, in Cuba and in Latin America.
Marlins can use that kind of leadership and pedigree as they look to take the next step, and he should both be inexpensive and probably productive enough when used correctly to add value on the field. Makes some sense to me.
I hope his views on cheating and East Asian people aren’t reflected by Latin America.
Good point, Carver.
The most racist people I’ve ever met were from Latin American countries (towards black guys at the company). And PED capital of the world is the Dominican.
@jjd002 – Racism is not exclusive to any part of the world, race, creed, culture or color. It is everywhere, it is stupid and illogical, it runs rampant and it is self-defeating..
The sad part is when folks use this unfortunate reality to excuse their own brand of racism. “Otherism” is not a crime – it is a strength and a necessity and it is a tool for growth, and most of us treat it as something that is unworthy of our grand selves.
More prevalent in some places than others. A similar comment on a Houston thread and fans immediately came to his defense and downplayed the incident as a small mistake not worthy of discussion. Not really confined to racism either, same people vigorously defended Osuna.
@case – What you are referring to is identity bias. Houston fans identify with their own player and will take his side or minimize the issue as a result. The same as all of the orange swirly-head backers that disavowed all sorts of lies, crimes and nonsense because they decided to hitch their wagon to him.
Are you claiming I’m being racist? Case is the one talking about race. Working in a factory after college my eyes were opened that it isn’t just white Americans that are racist. Never heard people freely use the n word until then. They were all fro El Salvador/Guatemala portion of Latin America.
Case, what are you even talking about? Didn’t come to the defense or downplay anything. You made it seem like racism isn’t an issue in Latin America and that Yuli is one random person. Not excusing anything – simply stating those countries are decades behind the US in race relations and their feelings on other people. Obviously not everyone, but as a whole they are much further behind the US and most other western civilizations.
Was not implying at all that you were being racist in your remark.
No, I’m implying a lot of people on the Houston threads are racist. Apparently casually mocking Yuli for a childishly racist moment in his past is “virtue signaling” and I think they’re afraid I’m about to teach their children critical race theory…
Will he be making a move to RF?
Nah. He may be catching because why not move very one around. Get everyone practice everywhere, just like little league.
He’ll be our Closer at some point this season when we run out of middle reliever garbage that Ng wants to keep putting in a Closer role.
The only question will be if Yuli gets the Closer role before Jon Berti. We know either one will be just as effective as all of our current options.
Not sure why the Marlins let Sandy Leone go. When he wasn’t catching, he was our best reliever.
My thoughts:
1 – Over/Under on who makes a bigger impact for the Marlins – Yuli Gurriel or Garrett Cooper? My bet is on Gurriel since he’ll be able to play 140+ games.
2 – How does this fix our bullpen problems?
3 – One word from what we’ve seen with Ng from the trade deadline, through the Winter Meetings, through now with weeks before pitchers and catchers report. PROCRASTINATION…PROCRASTINATION….PROCRASTINATION!
Seriously, how does this fix our bullpen problems?
I like this signing for the Marlins!
I’m ok with it too. At least I know we’ll have someone playing 1B for the season…even when Garrett “Injured List” Cooper takes his annuals leaves during the season.
Even my clone loves it! His whole career has had good odd years and bad even years. He is posed for a great year this time. I wonder who stepped in for the GM the last few days to restore competence!
Oh yeah, that is your clone.
As for the GM question, I think this is a matter of Ng thinking about her interviews and realizing that when Marlins FanFest rolls around in a few weeks, she’d have to face a lot of people waiting to bash her in person. She must’ve had her ‘oh shoot’ moment and figured to do something because she wouldn’t want her spotlight ruined by a bash-fest from both the local media and season ticket holders.
Would the media actually question her offseason decisions? It would go against their sole purpose of existence, though.
Couldn’t the Marlins use some of their surplus of starters to help in the pen..
Especially, if it is for a multi-inning type of role. This way they can slowly introduce said pitcher to the majors, but they would also be able to monitor and control their innings and overall usage.
Ideally, it would make more sense to do something like that once a pitcher is already nearing his innings limit closer to the latter third of the season, but I don’t think it would hurt to try it out with one of their secondary pitching prospects that might have to shift to a bullpen role eventually anyways…
Or it could be a great way to stretch back out any prospects that are coming back off an injury. After they take a little time down in AAA to knock off some of their initial rust, then call them up for a multi-inning role.
@deGrom Texas Ranger Some of the media had been starting to question her decision making, and have supported the fan base’s complete bashing of her. I think she saw an open execution waiting for her at FanFest because she has to be there, do interviews, and answer questions that come from season ticket holders.
@richardc
Using one of the young arms would be logical, but for some reason Ng has refused to add a Closer and not given one of the young arms the opportunity to compete for a Closer role. It’s only been the career middle relievers that she’s added that have been given the chance.
If you listen to the fans, you will end up sitting with them.
Old baseball executive saying.
Padres fix your BP problem.. you get Pomeranz fron the left side and Crismatt from the right side and we get Cooper and $1 mil Intl bonus pool money for 2024… done
Although I’d be thrilled for the Marlins to rid us of Mr. Injured List, we need a Closer.
Yea, not gonna happen! Even with Sixto in the trade. You keep Cooper they might talk.
Why are you after a 1B for the Padres? I thought that’s where Cronenberg’s gonna play?
It’s difficult judging someone’s performance without complete information. Seems a primary cause is their small budget. If there’s a complaint to be made at MarlinsFest seems like it should be ar ownership for not spending after telling the public it will go up with a new stadium.
@i like al conin
That’s a fair statement, but the 2022 trade deadline is what started Kim Ng’s undoing where that argument doesn’t hold water. With the Marlins out of the hunt by last year’s deadline, the fan base and everyone expected and welcomed trading off of the veteran players that had trade markets. Ng only pulled off one trade while keeping the others who had since dropped in value. The expectation and hopes of the fan base was to clear roster spots to let the young players play so we could see what we had going forward. Then weeks after the trade deadline, after Aguilar was one of the guys she held onto instead of moving him to interested parties, she released him for nothing to clear the roster spot like it was expected earlier. The noise that started at the deadline grew louder and has been growing louder ever since. At that moment when the bashing started getting louder, Ng herself responded with talking big about all the moves she would do in the offseason and Winter Meetings. She showed up to the Winter Meetings and only accomplished self-promoting items, but nothing for the Marlins. She then made the statements that the team would be different come Spring Training. And now we see her being aggressive on moves with weeks before pitchers and catchers report.
Again, when this is the case, it’s on her. She built this situation for herself, and she deserves every bit of the criticism she’s received.
She’s gotten a raw deal. She’s got no support from her ownership, has no money to spend, and it’s incredibly hard in this environment to get any impact free agent to sign with a second or third tier team. Not even if you’re in Miami (try doing it if you’re in Kansas City or Denver). The super teams just snap everyone up. Just gotta hope some of the prospects pan out. There’s another trade of a SP coming too, I believe. Maybe for a corner OF or closer.
@seamaholic
That’s a fair statement, but it still doesn’t account for her failure to trade away targeted pieces at the 2022 traded deadline, when everyone, including our fan base, supported the idea of moving pieces to clear roster spots for the young player to play. She did that to herself.
@ MarlinsFanBase
Appreciate the thoughts. Aguilar is a good example. No one wanted him. He’a still not signed. We don’t have full information on the trade market last deadline. She’s an experienced FO exec who needs a chance. Again, causation. Agree with Seamaholic
Btw @ MarlinsFanBase, how are the fans not storming the barricade against the fraud perpetuated by ownership? They promised a higher budget to get the stadium. That seems to me the no. 1 issue with that franchise.
Low payroll does make it harder, but the signings that have been made, are bad. CLE and BAL both had lower payrolls and better records.
You just like Yuli because he has hit for high batting averages in the past. Last year he was down to 242, and he’ll be out of baseball soon. This is not the kind of player that a rebuilding team needs to be wasting money on, a washed-up has-been.
These guys could compete for 70 wins!
And if we added a Closer, we could compete for 80 wins.
Yuli will ad about 10 more cuban fans for attendance.
Go back to watching E!SPN.
Dude, that was maybe funny in 1996, it’s old. You must be that miserable to go on a sports news site and insult a team or anyone for that matter, taking time out of your day. That’s pathetic.
@iKiller Klowns From Outer Space!
I think we shouldn’t be too harsh on him. He stated “ad” not “add”. So clearly he was talking about Yuli will be buying ads for 10 of the Marlins Cuban fans to promote their small businesses so they can get more attendance that their venues. So he was referring to Yuli as a philanthropist. (hehe)
What is going on with the Marlins? Always wanted Kim Ng to get an opportunity, but she needs to go.
This seems like an odd move, but Ng also just pulled off a decent trade. Arraez isn’t the bopper they need, but he certainly improves the offense without really hurting the rotation. This all has to be viewed within the context of Miami’s budget restriction. It’s not like ownership authorized her to throw money at a Correa-level free agent.
Also… Maybe there’s one more move this offseason, like a trade for Bryan Reynolds. That would still seem doable, since the Marlins have six major league starters and two top prospects in Eury Perez and the injured Max Meyer.
Reynolds wouldn’t make sense at this point, but I do think the heist of the decade (2020s) Kim made should buy her a few more years.
Reynolds would make a lot of sense right now. He still has three years of control, which is a fair amount of time. And they need the bats to take advantage of that rotation before they start going their separate directions.
Sure, the division is stacked. But it’s exactly out of the ordinary for the Mets or Phillies to fall apart. The Marlins can position themselves to sneak into the postseason.
I’m not a Ng fan but NO MATTER what any Marlins GM or Management, etc. does it’s a bad move. It won’t make a difference who’s at the helm. We need a contact hitter, we get Arraez, he’s a fluke. We need pitching and prospects at the time, we trade Ozuna for Sandy and Gallen turned Jazz, we got fleeced. Same old story dude.
Everything you say is quite the exact opposite of reality. You are saying the Marlins got fleeced for Alcantara! They got one of the best pitchers in MLB and locked him up for free almost.
If you’re replying to me I think you misunderstood me. I’m a diehard Marlins fan, I’m saying no matter what the Fish do they get ridiculed. I’m saying at the time everyone said the Marlins got fleeced. Understand? Ps: love your posts and appreciation for the Marlins.
Sarcasm is a bit confusing.
Especially online lol
You are a klown regardless…
My self-loathing imitator again! Seriously, though, cut out this nonsense. This is getting old by now.
Huh? I’ve commented like 10 times of MLBTR? I don’t understand why you’re attacking me lol. This is why I don’t comment online, when I do, someone trolls me. I’m confused brother. Best wishes.
I am not talking about you @Killer. I am saying this guy deGrom Texas Rangers is mimicking me.
Lmao
If ATL, PHI or NYM suffer really bad injuries, especially to rotation. MIA can sneak into 3 spot with more under radar additions like pen.. Stealt Putting together a winning club
The Twins are probably trying to get back at them by driving up the price after being robbed in broad daylight yesterday. Imagine it actually backfiring!
The Twins are morphing into the Padres – in on everybody whether they need them or not. Have a surplus at a position? Continue to add to that surplus.
The Twins don’t have a surplus at 1B. They have Kiriloff, who’s not stayed healthy his entire career.
And hasn’t hit either. The Twins are fairly desperate for a 1B/DH type. Fortunately, there are plenty around.
They should bring in Luke Voit
@sky14, *Kirilloff. Also they just traded away their first batting champion first baseman yesterday. Clown show
Could have sworn Carew won a few titles while playing 1B for the Twins. If I’m Gurriel, the Twins look like the better opp for playing time.
Carew is a symbol of how stupid the Twins ownership has always been.
Carew moved to 1B in 76 with the Twins. His last title was in 78. He was traded to Angles in 79, and although he batted over .400 until mid-July in 83, he did not win another title.
Carew was overrated
What a weird qualifier. Who cares if a 1B is a batting champion. Actually, you kind of don’t want that, you want your 1B to jack bombs.
Arraez is going to play 2nd. You guys reported that yourself, in your article about Jazz switching to CF
Same thing I was thinking so it makes sense to get a first basemen to split time with the oft injured Cooper. I would prefer Voit over Gurriel myself though.
It looks like the author actually read your comment and fixed the error!
They would be competitive if Correa released a statement saying “nah nevermind im going to Miami, those unis are fly”
Yuli is still a gold glove level defender at first base. He won the batting title two years ago. He did drop to .244 last year but was good in the playoffs. He puts the ball in play too only striking out at a 14% clip. Twins could use a contact hitter after trading Arraez. If he played every day at fries base I think he could help but I’m assuming Kirilloff was going to play there. If he isn’t, and the Twins do sit Gurriel, then another move with Kepler, Gordon and or Larnach/Kirilloff is coming. Might deal one of them for a bullpen upgrade.
Wouldn’t be the worst signing in the world. I could see him platooning 1B with Garrett Cooper. Gurriel against LHP and Cooper against RHP
NLE is nutty. Do not sleep on the Marlins.
That’s the exact reason I can’t take them THAT seriously. They’d be a #2 team in a lot of divisions and could easily win either Central division. In the East though? Nah.
They might not seem like an immediate threat, but they have Sandy Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, Jesus Luzardo, Trevor Rogers, Braxton Garrett, and two left-handed starting pitching prospects in MLB Pipeline’s top 10 LHP prospects list. You get Jazz to stay healthy, Garcia and/or Soler to put up average-ish numbers, and now with Arraez, they’re not going to be pushovers.
DarkSide830;
They could not win either Central Division – let alone easily.
Maybe the manager can get them to play decent baseball. While that team has very good starting pitching (and the best Ace in MLB), their bullpen has been unstable for years. Their defense is poor and they traded away their best defensive player, while their baserunning is below par.
I like the manager. Maybe he and his coaches can do something.
Boy do those Twinkies love those caught cheaters!
So how is your ma these days?
The Marlins have so much pitching talent, even if their offense isn’t great, they could probably still put up a respectable win total.
Thing is, after Alcantara, their pitching isn’t really that great. The rotation is incredibly deep (they’ve still got at least 8 guys who should be starting in the majors next year) but not that effective (again, after Sandy). Lopez was their clear #2. And they may have the worst pen in baseball.
Eh, I definitley think that Edward Cabrera and Jesus Luzardo pitched better than Pablo, but both didn’t pitch as much as Lopez. Braxton Garrett also did quite well and arguably better than Lopez too. We’ll see how Rogers does next year. Maybe it was a sophmore slump, which happens. But you are right about the bullpen. It’s shaky at best. The Marlins needed offense, but it would have been nice to see them go out and sign like two bullpen arms this off-season. There’s still time and adding like Will Smith and Michael Fulmer would be major reinforcements, but there’s no major indication they’re interested in either.
I think going into next year, having Alcantara/Lopez/Cabrera/Garrett/Rogers is a very good starting five. Get a semi-respectable offense and some okay bullpen arms, and they won’t be a complete pushover. I don’t know how well they’d do in the division, but that’s a roster that could be semi-decent.
If the Dodgers signed Gurriel, they’d be praised.
If the Marlins signed Gurriel they’d be ridiculed.
I seen Rotoworld saying COL backing out of. Potential Ed Cabrera for Rogers deal was a smart move because of Cabrera injury history yet read every post about Dustin May. You’d think Cabrera is the next Mike Pelfry and May is the next Clemens.
Thing is there are ways to make it work. Miami has a much greater chance of Gurriel making it through the whole season (even at 38) than Cooper and Cooper can play the OF corners and could DH against lefties with Soler spelling Sanchez in LF.
Should the Twins land Gurriel the Marlins should pivot to Luke Voit because they need some power in the lineup
Despite their age difference, Yuli and Lourdes played together 7 years combined in Cuba and Japan. I’m surprised the Dbacks haven’t signed Yuli for a reunion.
You know that many brothers don’t get along, and even more don’t like each other very much, right?
Hmm …. Play in Miami, where I live and it’s warm, there are lots of Cubans and I can enjoy my millions. Or play in Minnesota, where there are no Cubans and it’s cold and I don’t live.
This seems like an uneven fight.
The last 2 AL batting champs in 2 days for MIA, if finalized. Interesting
Guess what team has had the most batting champions in the past 30 years? The answer will tell you all you need to know about how valuable being the batting champion is.
Answer: Rockies by country mile.
Bad headline.
Reading it I thought it was about a 3-way trade.
Marlins woke up all of a sudden….
Play him primarily at 1B, split time with Coop there. Maybe give Coop some time in LF and DH too? Gurriel could hit 50 2Bs at LoanDepot park…
Cooper and all the Marlins last year were not good against lefties…Yuli would help close that gap.
Gourriel is batting average dependent.
290+ to be above average. Since he has limited power and walks. I dont fancy those types. But he is what he is.
Chicks might dig the long ball, but getting on base is the best thing for the TEAM, especially in that ballpark.
Just saying.
Looking at his splits, he’d be fine in a platoon role. Twins make sense.
It is weird and probably a trivia question for the future: how many times or when was the last time back to back batting champions have been traded or not retained by their clubs?