Longtime Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel remains one of the most recognizable names on the free-agent market, but it’s been a generally quiet offseason with regard to interest in the former batting champion and Gold Glove winner. The 38-year-old has drawn interest from the Marlins, Twins and incumbent Astros, but Miami reportedly backed down in its pursuit of Gurriel late last month. Newly minted Astros GM Dana Brown spoke to the Houston media yesterday and touched on Gurriel, effusing praise but also rather candidly suggesting they may not have enough playing time for him following the signing of Jose Abreu earlier in the winter (Twitter link, with video, via Mark Berman of Houston’s FOX 26).
“The tough part about Gurriel is he’s so well-liked,” said Brown. “In the clubhouse, he was outstanding. The players love him. The coaches love him. When we signed Abreu, it makes it tough to go out and get Gurriel because now it’s more of a want as opposed to a need. I think you have to stick with the needs before you jump into the wants, because if you get into the wants, now you have too much of a surplus in one area and it causes weaknesses in other areas. We love the player and would love to have him back, but we have to figure out if there’s any room where he can get at-bats with Abreu here.”
The apparent lack of a market for Gurriel isn’t a total surprise, as he’s coming off a down season in which he slashed just .242/.288/.360 with a career-low (for a full season) eight home runs inn 584 plate appearances. Gurriel won a batting title as recently as 2021, when he hit .319/.383/.462, and he took home a Gold Glove at first base that season as well. However, even his typically strong defensive grades took a nosedive in 2022; Gurriel rated as a negative in the eyes of Defensive Runs Saved (-2), Ultimate Zone Rating (-0.2) and Statcast’s Outs Above Average (-9).
The downturn at the plate wasn’t merely a matter of poor fortune, either. While Gurriel was plagued, to an extent, by a .266 average on balls in play that falls well shy of his career .294 mark, some of that is attributable to a decline in the quality of his contact. His line-drive rate dipped to a career-low 18.5%, for instance, and Statcast measured his average exit velocity (88.2 mph), hard-hit rate (35.4%) and barrel rate (just 1.9%) at career-low levels. Furthermore, while Gurriel’s strikeout rate remained excellent relative to league-average 22.4%, his 12.5% mark was nonetheless a career-worst. That’s a testament to his superlative bat-to-ball skills, but the handful of extra punchouts still further dragged down his overall production.
Brown’s comments Thursday certainly don’t sound as though they’re a portent for a reunion with Gurriel, however beloved he may be in the clubhouse and throughout the organization as a whole. With Abreu taking the lion’s share of time at first base and a corner outfield/designated hitter mix slated to feature productive hitters like Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez and Michael Brantley, it would indeed be tough to bring Gurriel aboard as anything more than a bench bat. But while the Marlins were weighing Gurriel as an option to split time between first base, second base and third base, it’s doubtful every team would consider him for such a versatile role. With the exception of two emergency innings at third base in 2021, Gurriel has played exclusively as a first baseman or designated hitter dating back to Opening Day 2020.
The Twins have more of an opening at first base, where longtime prospect Alex Kirilloff is the favorite for at-bats right now. Kirilloff, a former first-round pick and top-20 prospect in the sport, has just a .251/.295/.398 slash in 387 big league plate appearances, but that production has been adversely impacted by wrist injuries that have required a pair of surgeries. He’s a career .323/.378/.518 hitter in the minors and only just turned 25 this offseason, so Minnesota undoubtedly hopes he can be a big part of the outlook moving forward. Gurriel would give them a right-handed complement to the left-handed Kirilloff and provide some insurance should injuries again sideline him, but Minnesota’s bench is deep in right-handed bats as it is and signing Gurriel would likely mean optioning Trevor Larnach (another former first-rounder and top prospect who’s been beset by injuries) to Triple-A.
Clear fits for Gurriel aren’t exactly plentiful at the moment, though there are some teams that could potentially work him into a part-time first base/DH role (e.g. Rangers, Reds, to name a couple). It’s certainly possible that some spring injuries will open the door for a new opportunity once camps begin to get underway, however. At this point, that might be what it takes for Gurriel to find a semi-regular role.
Much better fit on the Mets than Ruf is.
I’ve been saying that they should cut Ruf and sign Gurriel to platoon the DH with Vogelbach. It makes so much sense. But I think Gurriel probably wants a guarantee of playing time.
Ruf stinks.
The Padres may as well sign him, weird roster over there
For what? Cronenworth has it handled
I think he’d fit great with the Yankees if he can accept a bench role. He could spell Rizzo at 1B when a tough lefty is pitching or when Rizzo goes on the IL (which is usually a couple times per season). I guess it depends on how they plan on deploying DJL as DJ can play 1B as well. If the Yankees could somehow move Donaldson then Gurriel makes a lot of sense in NY on a one year deal.
At his age, Yuli might have to settle for a DH only gig.
The only time he ever showed any pop whatsoever in his bat was when they were banging on trash cans.
Putting a noodle bat like Gurriel at DH is just begging for disaster.
Were they “banging on trash cans” when he won the batting title in 2021?
Getting sick of you schmucks. Just about every team in MLB was stealing signs. And they would still be but a player turned the Astros into The Athletic.
Want to be upset about who’s responsible? Try the Commissioners Office that’s supposed to administer MLB. I find it hard to believe that the people working there didn’t know about something so wide-spread. Then again, if they had tried to do anything the Players Union would have been raising holy he!!.
Hi Samuel – I just ignore it because it’s going away; Astros threads are WAY more on-point than they used to be, because Astros are the most brilliant and accomplished team of the last 10 years, and are very close to vaulting over Frank Robinson Orioles & Big Red Machine in the GREAT franchise run rankings,
But, I want Yuli back, big time. He is the pro’s pro, at bat, at 1st, in the clubhouse, and in the community. He is, usually, over the last 6 seasons, the guy I want at the plate in a pressure situation.
btw, Javier just got extended
Good post Sammy I disagreed with the whole thing though. Which team is your home team because you talk like someone who has ties to the depths of the jungle.
You talked like that
Good post Sammy I disagreed with the whole thing though. Which team is your home team because you talk like someone who has ties to the depths of the jungle.
You talked like that about the mariners ship. You acted like you had a direct link to the FO. I called you out on that but you turned into a hermit crab. Crawl from one shell to another. I value what you have to say with a fine tooth comb. You try and try with the fine tooth comb but you can’t get it through the knots.
With a paltry sub-.150 ISO…
Learn to read. I said “pop.”
I think he would be a good 1B/DH bat for Texas. Do no know if he is better defensively than Lowe, but it would not take much. He is typically an above average hitter with a little pop so that could be useful especially if he is better than Lowe with the glove.
Gurriel and Darvish stories on the same day is interesting.
If he wants to sign with a contender he may have to settle for a bench bat role. Otherwise he’s going to have to sign somewhere like Oakland.
With a diminished offense and batted ball profile, he’s going to bench bat regardless of team.
Astros need to sign him for a front office role (working with Latin American players).
How do you know he would be good at that? There’s more to it than speaking Spanish and having a Latino name.
He should retire.
The Padres could do worse in adding a player like Yuli to their bench. So, for Gurriel, it comes down to money, playing time and the belief that the Friars’ shot at a ring is legit…
If Torkelson struggles in the Spring, Detroit might have a need.
The Astros should re-sign him. It amazes me how media types and others portray Abreu as this star 1b man. His defense is good but his offense is on the decline. The one thing in his favor is his current team. For eight years he carried the White Sox. He won’t have to do that in Houston.
There should be a moratorium on trash can references. That is plaid out. Anyone who brings it up is a tired antique.
Are suggesting that we should junk the trash can references? That’s a garbage idea.
Agreed.
MLBTR needs to have some programming done to catch the string of trash can references and blank them out.
Been tired of it for a well over a year now.
I’ve had posts deleted because the writers didn’t like what I wrote – which was pertinent. If they can censor that then they can take these trash can references down.
Almost all teams cheated – same as with steroids. MLB can’t police itself until things get out of hand and there’s a sandal. Time to move on.
@ Southern Lion – I think it might be more madras out than plaid out…or maybe even more tartan out? Either way, I agree with you.
I could see plaid jerseys for a team out of Portland or something. Whatever happened to 48 team mlb guy? I got a kick out of that shtick.
Ok. “Played” out…… 🙂
The Indians should sign Gurriel, their firstbasemen have been horrible these past 5 years. Sign him for cheap
I have to think if he wanted to play in minnesota, the deal would already be done. It’s not like there’s all these other options waiting for him. I think he might be the reason why he’s unsigned.
“The downturn at the plate wasn’t merely a matter of poor fortune, either.”
No comma needed before either.
“The downturn at the plate wasn’t merely a matter of poor fortune either.”
With Harper injured until the all star break, he could be useful in the Phillies lineup and spell Hoskins at 1b from time to time.
He’d be a nice get for the Orioles. 250-300 AB in a clubhouse crying out for a WS winner.
I kind of feel bad for Yuli. He was batting champ two years ago. He certainly had a down year, but he could bounce back and make some GM look incredibly smart for very little risk.