9:30am: The Braves formally announced the signing of Urshela. Riley has been placed on the 10-day IL to open a spot on the active roster, while lefty A.J. Minter — who underwent season-ending hip surgery recently — was moved to the 60-day IL to open a 40-man roster spot.
8:20am: The Braves and Urshela have agreed to a deal, tweets Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
7:50am: The Braves are nearing a major league deal with third baseman Gio Urshela, per a report from The New York Post’s Joel Sherman this morning. Urshela was recently designated for assignment and released by the Tigers, who’ll be on the hook for the remainder of his $1.5MM salary. The Braves will only owe Urshela the prorated league minimum for the time he spends on the big league roster or injured list. Urshela is a client of Rep 1 Baseball.
The news comes just one day after Braves third baseman Austin Riley was diagnosed with a hand fracture that is expected to sideline him for between six and eight weeks. If that timeline holds, it will leave him out of action for at least the remainder of the regular season and the early portions of the postseason, though it’s feasible he could return to the field if Atlanta makes a deep enough run into the playoffs.
With utilityman Whit Merrifield already covering for the injured Ozzie Albies at second base, that seemingly left the club to rely on top infield prospect Nacho Alvarez Jr. and depth infielder Luke Williams to handle the hot corner down the stretch. With Urshela now in the fold, the club will add a veteran third baseman into the fold who could help raise the floor on their production at the position in Riley’s absence.
For Urshela, the deal represents an opportunity to get regular at-bats with a playoff contender down the stretch while also attempting to re-establish himself as a regular option following a disappointing stint in Detroit this year. Following a 2023 season where he was limited to just 62 games by a season-ending pelvic fracture, Urshela hit free agency and signed a one-year deal worth just $1.5MM with the Tigers back in February. At the time, it seemed to be a bargain for a player who had been a steady regular at third base for several years. It quickly turned sour, however, as Urshela delivered his worst season since establishing himself as a regular with the Yankees back in 2019.
The 32-year-old hit just .243/.286/.333 (73 wRC+) in 325 trips to the plate with the Tigers while splitting time between the infield corners. Defensive metrics are extremely mixed on Urshela’s defense at third, as the veteran has accumulated -17 Outs Above Average at the position since becoming a regular back in 2019. Brutal as that figure may seem, Defensive Runs Saved actually has Urshela as a plus defender at the hot corner over that same timeframe with a +4 figure overall. Still, even the most favorable views of Urshela’s defense leave it difficult to justify him as an everyday option if his hitting numbers remain where they were in Detroit.
Fortunately, there’s some reasons for optimism regarding the veteran’s future. His track record over the past half decade speaks for itself, as he entered the 2024 season as a solid .291/.335/.452 (115 wRC+) hitter since his 2019 breakout with New York. That’s the 16th-best figure among all qualified third baseman over that time frame. What’s more, Urshela’s .271 BABIP is by far the lowest of his career; he entered the 2024 season with a career .319 BABIP that had jumped to .334 since his breakout in 2019.
A return to form in that regard could help Urshela put up numbers closer to league average offensively. His batted ball data also suggests he’s in line for some positive regression. The 32-year-old’s .271 wOBA is a far cry from his .305 xwOBA, a figure that (while still below average) would put him roughly in line with his more palatable 2021 and 2023 seasons, where his offensive output was around 3% and 8% worse than league average (by wRC+). Even that level of production would make Urshela a solid fill-in at the hot corner for Atlanta, particularly if the club doesn’t want to push Alvarez into an everyday big league role in the middle of a pennant race at just 21 years old.
Makes sense.
Solid signing
He has a -0.6 WAR this year.
Excellent change of scenery candidate with his track record though.
Nope
Why would anyone downplay this signing without asking one question. Regardless of his 2014 season, the only question to ask is what better options were there?
MLB Players don’t leave Detroit and do better. He’s on the backside of his career and his numbers will only get worse.
@TroyVan: Joe Jiminez has been excellent for the Braves since the Henry-Malloy trade.
He was mostly excellent for the Tigers. A little up and down, but we didn’t trade him because he was bad. We traded him because we had and still have solid depth at Pitcher but not position players.
Justin Verlander, Matt Scherzer, JD. Martinez, John Smoltz, to name a few.
That deal seems like it will work out for both teams. I like Malloy a lot.
Not a one of those players went on to perform better. Max Sxherzer was nothing until he was traded to Detroit. Same with JD. Verlander won a triple crown in Detroit. Smoltz was never a MLB player when he was with Detroit. Never even advanced past single A. Try again.
And, speaking of Triple Crowns, the last pitcher: Detroit’s Verlander. Last batter: Detroit’s Cabrera. Next pitcher: Detroit’s Skubal is a real possibility. He’s on track right now.
WAR is a fake stat.
Who hurt you?
LIBL
“WAR is a fake stat.”
Define “fake stat”
You know that all stats are made up? Like they didn’t come down from the sky on golden tablets. They were all made as an attempt to quantify baseball performance. For example, batting average is a cricket stat. That’s part of the reason that it does such a bad job measuring anything related to being a good baseball hitter.
Cows are also a “fake,” man-made animal, but they’re still extremely useful.
Similar to WAR, cows were created to help make our lives easier.
Now, this is most likely the part where you admit to being a veagen. lol
Yours is a fake comment.
Richard
Cows weren’t CREATED to make human lives better. They were modified to do so.
Vegetarian, not strictly vegan
Orange carrots, Raspberries and frankenfruit of the 2000s comes to mind.
You mean you don’t like what it reflects about your favorite player. Now if you said the defense portion of WAR is too subjective you could be right but the offense measures are very objective.
Name one stat that better represents a player’s value. Just cause you don’t understand it, you don’t have to be ignorant
Alternative stat?
All stats are not made up…batting average is not made up. The number of home runs done one has is not made up.
WAR might have some merit but it has a lot wrong with it, too. It gives way to much weight to on-base percentage. When there are runners on 2nd and 3rd, and my cleanup hitter is up, I don’t want him to be trying to draw a walk, I want him to get a hit and drive runs in.
Batting average and home runs in Boston don’t equal batting average and home runs in Denver or Chavez Ravine. The dimensions of the ball parks and the playing conditions are very different.
I don’t hate WAR but in fairness stats like BA aren’t made up in the same way. They are obvious basic measurements that show something that we can’t argue the truth of or not. It happened. Whereas WAR is not some obvious stat. Like HR is irrefutable. Obviously we have to weigh these stats importance but they aren’t created in the same way as WAR or Sierra or FIP, etc. Anyone at any time would have come up with BA and HR. I’m not saying WAR isn’t more complete tho it’s an approximation obviously.
According to the dummies in this thread…
Average defense, no power and bad discipline shouldn’t mean he has been a bad player this year. Haha
What are the WAR numbers for their other options? As Matt said, solid signing.
In what way? He is horrible and has been forever. On the Eddie Rosario level.
What else do you want the braves to do!?!? Get chipper out of retirement???
Horrible maybe for a team that has an offense, but, sadly, I’d gladly take him on the Mariners. Their great pitching staff is being wasted. When their starters become free agents I think there is zero chance they resign with the M’s; they’ll sign with a team that will provide run support.
Raleigh already has boras and already hates the ownership group for good reason, I’ve heard people like Gilbert and Kirby getting pissed secretly
This might be another failed core of players… at least they gave us 1 playoff run
Imagine going back in time 6 months and telling somebody the 2024 Braves lineup would be Ramon Laureano, Whit Merrifield, Jorge Soler, Gio Urshela. Etc. You would be thrown in a mental asylum.
+ That the Braves are in 2nd place and are barely hanging on to a wild card spot.
It’s got some 1980s Braves vibes, that’s for sure. Testament to their overall drive to still be in the hunt.
RE Santa
Look at the Braves buying everyone up when their players get injured – unlike teams like the Dodgers who rely on…I’m not sure. Not doing that, I guess.
The Braves are every fan’s dream team: An organization that never lets up in its pursuit of victory. As a Nats fan, I envy Atlantans getting to root for a team that keeps fighting and goes out to get talent that might help them. They are not deterred by injury. If they are in the hunt, they spare no expense in trying to win. While the Nats are in terminal rebuild, the Braves are in endless hustle. Wishing the Braves well in their pursuit of the postseason.
Well ATL went through a rebuild. But in fairness I don’t think they got enough credit for doing it so quickly and being unorthodox in holding onto their best player (Freeman). At the time most analytical types thought they were doing it all wrong. I also think we gotta give the previous GM some credit for trades like Fried. Sure he made some bad ones too but that was extreme robbery.
Braves getting karma
They are getting Karma-la Harris?
IF True Gio taking them to the WS
@Dwayne
Didn’t realise Gio was a bus driver too. Good to have a second income….
He’s an Uber driver. He has a Gio Metro.
I don’t know if this is an inside joke but I finally feel compelled to say that what we mean by Karma is not what eastern people meant by it. It’s a bad interpretation. It is essentially cause and effect. Necessity to the Greeks. But we could argue over what constitutes a “cause”. Therein lies the misunderstanding. There is nothing moral indicated by the word Karma.
The Braves would look good with Nolan Arenado at third base next year. The trade may be worth a conversation.
No thanks.
They have Austin Riley at third base for like the next eight years. Trading for Arenado makes absolutely no sense.
You see it would make sense for the braves to trade for 33 year old injured Mike trout
It makes sense…
Silly post.
And that Chris Sale, injured for five years, would be their best pitcher and a leading Cy Young contender — and their second best pitcher down the stretch would be Spencer Schwellenbach. Baseball, like life, can be crazy and messy.
You mean Leonel Messi?
Chris sale has just re-entered the HOF conversation for the first time in half a decade
If he wins a cy young this year that would look really good on top of the 8 all stars and 2018 WS
Can you a guy in the hall who was childish enough to shred a gameday jersey because he didn’t like how it fit?
@saluelthpops: Shredding a gameday jersey falls way down the list of character flaws and bad actions by HOF’ers. Like to the bottom of the list—-if it even makes the list…………….
Best immediate choice out there. It keeps Atlanta still somewhat-competitive, but the playoffs are still wishful thinking unless some of the hibernating hitting comes to life.
Agreed. 4 yrs, 5th team. Transition in to new digs should be no problem for this vet. Will get right to work.
Yeah I don’t know about that. Not like they have any world beaters chasing them for the 3rd WC spot. Top 5 in the lineup (Solar, Harris, Ozuna, Olson, Drnaud) can still compete with any teams top 5. Stay in it til Ozzie is back in a few weeks and they have a good top 6. If the pitching keeps doing what they are doing they’ll be fine for the 3rd WC. Mets are better offensively now but the Braves have the better pitching.
Merrifield is doing fine in Ozzie’s absence.
Gio did fine for the Tigers in a limited and unpredictable role. Solid veteran presence. He’ll help…
No complaints here. They could do a whole lot worse than Urshela. He actually may fit in really well in ATL.
I’m sure he’s also a happy fella.
Signing a released player to replace an injured player? I thought only the evil greedy Dodgers did that
Huh?
Lots of comments about how the Dodgers are breaking baseball or something by singing guys like Nick Ahmed or trading for Cavan Biggio or Ahmed Rosario to fill holes.
Yeah I think that’s your imagination. Nobody cares about them signing released players. But spending a billion in the off-season….that’s a different story.
CC
“Yeah I think that’s your imagination”
Nope
@DodgersBro: Someone hurt your dodger fandom by saying that on another thread recently. Since then, you’ve whined about it on every article. Give it a rest. Most here understand that the business of baseball includes signing—and paying— players to fill team needs.
NJ
Muted
@DodgersBro:
Mute away. Nothing you have to complain about is of interest.
Huh? That’s what most any team does after the trade deadline passes, to fill in for injured players
MV
I know
It’s trolls I suppose saying otherwise
Good luck Geo, you’re finally free from Detroit, hope you kick butt for the rest of the year! It’s got to help getting away from the circus in Detroit.
That circus beat NYY over the weekend.
And held them to just 5 runs over 3 games and swept the Mariners before that.
He peaked in 2019/20, four years back, but was still solid as recently as last year. Be interesting to see if this season’s off year is related to his injury last year or if a new org will help.
Freaking Cashman sleeping on the job again. He’s turning into George from Seinfeld. What happened Rosario?? Where did he go??
Yankees are like last to pick up guy!
@mlbnyyfan Who gets released from the 40-man roster when you have Gio, Berti, and Rizzo all ready to play again? Can’t just sign everyone.
maybe Cashman should try doing the opposite of what he would normally do, like George did.
I think the Dodgers and Braves have signed every available veteran this season
Every time I see his name, I hear his name pronounced in Vin Scully’s slow drawing voice.
GEEEO ERRRSHELLAA
I can’t unhear it. It’s a problem.
We all know how the season will end….the Mets will beat out the Braves for 3rd wildcard and the storyline will be how the Mets got their revenge for 2022.
…while delaying the Mets rebuilding program ala Marlins last year. Mets fans are still scratching their heads at potential missed selling opportunities at the deadline to get better long-term.
Baseball being baseball injuries are part of our game. The best regular season team doesn’t always win the WS. Remaining thirty eight games will test our mettelness. Nevertheless it’s not dark yet but it is getting there! Go Braves !
Braves are hoping Gio turns into the next Mike Schmidt.
The pitcher who threw the pitch that injured Riley which led to Riley being out for 6 – 8 weeks should be suspended by MLB for the same length of time. It is called JUSTICE.
Lol nah
The Braves are also working out Yuri Gurriel at 3B in Gwinnett (AAA) for further experienced depth. Next man up mentality.
Good pickup for the Braves. Gio was solid for the Tigers. He’s not spectacular, but he can play some good defense at 3B and get the occasional RBI-single. He’s reliable at 3B on defense – all the Braves really need from him. Any offense is a bonus.
These are the kinds of guys who get that key hit in the playoffs & become folk heroes for that team’s fanbase forever if they win the WS.
His defense was sometimes spectacular.
Probably the happiest guy in the majors, going from Detroit to Atlanta…..
And going from AAAA team to a contender.
There was a need for 3B at the deadline.
Good for Gio. Good spot for him. I bet he does better than he did in Detroit.
great sign. its almost impossible to hit in comerica due to being on the lake and the massive park. Ball doesn’t start flying until right now there. Everyone who leaves their stats and babip improve.
Orioles need to watch Braves for future reference, if they ever get the super injury bug like Braves. Good patch work infield for now.
Do the Tigers have any more players they can donate?
Baez!
Our cat is named Urshela. Hopefully he has cat like reflexes.