The A’s announced Monday that they’ve signed infielder Luis Urias to a one-year contract. There’s a reported $1.1MM guarantee for the Wasserman client. The deal also performance bonuses, including $150K apiece at 200, 300, 350, 400, and 500 plate appearances. Righty Luis Medina, who is recovering from UCL surgery, was moved to the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move.
Urias, 27, drew some interest from the Twins within the past couple weeks as well, but they opted to instead add Ty France to their infield mix, ostensibly filling the last spot on their expected roster. He’ll instead give the A’s some cover at multiple positions, providing needed insurance given an infield full of question marks.
The A’s are hoping for rebound efforts from both second baseman Zack Gelof and third base frontrunner Gio Urshela, who inked a big league deal earlier this winter. They’re also relying on young Jacob Wilson at shortstop, and while he’s a former top-10 pick and regarded as one of MLB’s top 50 or so prospects, he still has only 103 big league plate appearances to his credit.
Urias spent the 2024 season with the Mariners but fared poorly in a platoon setup with Josh Rojas. In just 109 big league plate appearances, the former Padres top prospect hit .191/.303/.394. That was the second straight season with a sub-.200 average for Urias. He was an above-average producer in a near full-time role with the Brewers from 2021-22, hitting .244/.340/.426 with 39 homers in 1042 plate appearances, but Urias has seen his strikeout, ground-ball and pop-up rates spike in the two years since that solid run.
Defensively, Urias has more than 1000 innings of big league experience at each of second base, shortstop and third base. Metrics like Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average cast him as a substantially below-average defender at short, however, and the Brewers clearly agreed, moving him off the position permanently back in 2022. He’s been average at second per both DRS and OAA, while the former metric pegs him as plus at third base to the latter’s slightly negative review.
That versatility could also line Urias up to fill a traditional utility role. The A’s currently have light-hitting Max Schuemann and prospect Darell Hernaiz as options for that role on the 40-man roster. Neither has hit in the majors, however, and both have just a year of big league time under their belts (slightly less for Hernaiz, actually) — despite the fact that Schuemann is only eight days younger than Urias.
Martin Gallegos of MLB.com first reported that Urias was in the A’s clubhouse. Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 had the salary and bonuses.
Not a bad guy to have around, there are much worse. Still young enough to make necessary changes and can possibly do them in some obscurity in Sacramento.
After they reached the magical threshold of 105 million they had been quiet spending money. Not unexpected by cheapy fisher only doing the minimum forced spending. Probably milb deal by Urias since he’s been lousy for a couple years. Wouldn’t mind another veteran reliever, Scott Alexander reunion probably wont take much for lefty depth
Yeah you can never have too many sub .200 hitters on your squad. WTF
Best barrel rate of his career last year, though in a small sample, and an increased launch angle. Is he trying to lean into his power? I’m intrigued…
He was rugged to watch last year as a Mariners fan. Good luck
Urshela will now have to compete for the playing time, with the amount of 3B options I’m happy that they went with upside. Hernaiz will now have more time to develop in AAA. Also, I kind of hope it is a MiLB deal with an opt-out, the A’s could still use the last 2 spots on the 40-man roster for Spencer Turnbull and Brooks Raley. While I expect Urias to make the team, that type of deal structure could give them more time in the assessment of fringe players like Sterner/CJ Alexander before making roster decisions.
Should be a minor league deal but since Fisher still has to spend it could be a guaranteed deal
Fisher is going to get the park built in Vegas before he turns them into the Washington Generals completely. Anyone watching this show go on has every right to probably hate MLB.
i wouldnt say sneaky good signing. He has been a really bad MLB player for the last 2 years.
Injured and bad. Still young enough to bounce back though.
Bita watching him on play last year I am going to say you won’t want him to have 600 or more at bats. Talking about a waste in the field and especially at the plate. He was a disaster everywhere. Good riddance Urias you won’t be missed in Seattle.
be nice
Yeasties
That was nice if I was honest there would be some profanity. He was a disaster here nobody could dispute that watching every game played.
The Padres sold at the right time on Urias.
Urias looked like he would be something like what Luis Arraez turned out to be when he was in the lower level of the minors. He went from a 6% strikeout rate at A+ to 12% at AA to 20% at AAA.
Sure seems like he did a 180 on his approach to sell out for power. All of the prospect meistroes thought he was a potential batting champion with I believe a 70 grade hit tool. Weird to see him turn out to be a .230’s hitter.
He went the launch angle route. Started hitting way more flyballs and pulling it. Changed his stance up too trying to get more power.
He is a completely different hitter now compared to when he was coming up in the padres system. Maybe injuries were a part of it? Would be interesting to know why he made the changes
I’d prefer the A’s give Logan Davidson a shot
why? he’s an outfielder now, and not a very good one at that…
No. He has weak contact off thee bat and strikes out at a %31 in AAA plus doesn’t play that much 3b. NO
AAAA player
F-tier owner.
AAA player. He was an average AAA player last year. AAAA is usually guys like Kelenic that tear up AAA but are not good in MLB. He’s average AAA and below average MLB
Scouts gave him an 80 grade hit tool back in the day
70, no? Sheeeet, guess it varied by scout. I like your many sweaters, El Guapo. Big fan.
Some guys peak a bit early…
We still have a hole at 3B and when he’s healthy he’s a .245 25 HR guy, sure I’m down to take a flyer on him. He was also a top prospect and still young
If it’s currently 2021.
He’s been injured, as someone who played through an injury at a high level, it makes a huge difference
An ok tandem with Urshela to see if either can play and contribute.
I am still hoping they look to improve pen and throw money at Robertson as that would create for an improved outlook
Nice My A’s still adding.
That 2021 season he had is suspicious
This is a pretty intriguing signing. He posted a .138/.283/.205 slash, which was a pretty awful 65 wRC+ at home in Seattle, where right handed hitters go to die. On the road, his slash was a much more respectable .240/.321/.560, good for a 147 wRC+. It’s all SSS, but not being in Seattle might do him wonders.