The Athletics released infielder Luis Urías, according to the MLB.com transaction log. He’d been designated for assignment on Monday. Urías has sufficient service time to refuse a minor league assignment while collecting what remains of his $1.1MM salary, so a release was inevitable. The A’s preferred to give playing time to controllable infielders Zack Gelof, Darell Hernaiz and Brett Harris for the stretch run.
The 28-year-old Urías can now set out in search of a new opportunity. He’d need to sign somewhere by September 1, at least on a minor league deal, to be eligible for a postseason roster. Urías will be a free agent at the beginning of the offseason in either case, so he’ll presumably only draw interest from a contender that wants to strengthen its infield depth.
Urías got out to a decent start to the season. He hit four homers with a .245/.345/.490 showing through the end of April. He has an underwhelming .227/.309/.307 slash in 271 plate appearances since the beginning of May. Urías has sliced his strikeout rate to a career-low 13.6% clip, but he hasn’t been much more productive overall than he was between 2023-24. He rarely makes hard contact and hasn’t hit for much power since combining for 39 homers with the Brewers from 2021-22.
Defensive metrics grade Urías around league average at both second and third base. He’s a righty hitter who has generally been better against left-handed pitching, as one would expect. That hasn’t been the case this season, as he’s hitting .183 with one homer in 68 plate appearances with the platoon advantage. If he catches on with another team before year’s end, his signing club would pay him the prorated $760K league minimum.
Oh,Wicho. I had such high hopes for you.
Wow, most a’s fans didn’t see this coming … either of them!
The two A’s fan were too busy making out in the parking lot to even notice. I should know, I was riding shotgun with Reese McGuire.
A useful player. He’ll find a new home.
For sure. Guessing most playoff contenders have at least some interest. He’ll sign in the next day or two.
This guy’s been passed around more than than a blunt at a Lil Wayne concert.
I was going to say passed around more times than a doobie at a Bachman Turner Overdrive concert but I didn’t want to date myself.
Cheap teams like the Pirates, Rockies, and Marlins salivating at the chance to get this guy next year for a cheap option. I sure hope not but I can see the fit.
They would be better served to try prying his brother from the Astros. As was the case for him in Baltimore, he’s behind at multiple positions on the depth chart but he can be a serviceable starting infielder for any club looking for a stopgap starting option or lower cost starter. He plays excellent defense and hits well with regular playing time. I imagine he would be fairly easy to acquire and don’t see him as being much of a priority in Houston, even as a utility guy. He is certainly capable of being a teams utility infielder but he seems to be better suited for regular starting type playing time in order to be most productive.
Marlins?
Raise your troll game a few notches.
I could see him signing with the Rockies this offseason looking for the offensive bounce back. He’s exactly the type of guy who could all of a sudden have a big year there.
I honestly like that idea for the Rockies or Pirates.. can never have too much infield depth options. He’s actually having a half decent season by his standards. Urias has always been useful imo
Ageed Baller. I could see him going to either, and having a solid year. He’d be fully capable of being a starting 2nd or 3rd baseman, and with every day AB’s I could see him having something like a .240/.320/20 HR season.
Neither he or Urshela could capitalize on playing in a minor league park and now both are free agents. Gelof was hitting ok in AAA, lets see if he can keep it up the rest of the season for the A’s
Back to the brew crew with you.
San Diego