The Athletics announced that they have claimed left-hander Jared Shuster off waivers from the White Sox and sent him to Triple-A Las Vegas.. The latter club designated him for assignment earlier this week. To open a 40-man spot, the A’s designated infielder Gio Urshela for assignment. Infielder Brett Harris has been recalled to take Urshela’s active roster spot.
Shuster, 27, was once a notable prospect in Atlanta’s system. He hasn’t yet delivered at the major league level, with a 5.27 earned run average in 141 2/3 innings. His minor league track record has been better overall but has been trending in the wrong direction lately. He tossed 212 1/3 minor league innings over 2021 and 2022 with a 3.69 ERA, 27.4% strikeout rate and 6.8% walk rate. But since then, he has 114 innings with a 5.37 ERA, 18.1% strikeout rate and 10.6% walk rate.
For the A’s, it’s understandable they’d grab him off waivers. They’re out of contention here in 2025 and can prioritize the long term. Shuster is in his final option year. He’ll be out of options next year but he can be stashed in Triple-A for now. The A’s can get a close-up look at him and see if he can get back on track in the next few weeks. If not, they can perhaps run him through waivers in the offseason and keep him as non-roster depth next year.
One way or another, if he clicks while in the system, there would be long-term benefits. He has just over two years of service time, meaning he hasn’t yet qualified for arbitration and could theoretically be controlled for four seasons after this one.
Urshela, on the other hand, doesn’t have any long-term benefit to the A’s. His 34th birthday is just over the horizon. He was signed in the offseason to a one-year deal with a $2.15MM guarantee to provide a stable veteran presence in an infield with a lot of youth and uncertainty. Unfortunately, he has hit just .238/.287/.326 this season. His wRC+ has dropped for a third consecutive year and is now down to 68. His previously-excellent defensive metrics have slid below the mean.
By claiming Shuster and bumping out Urshela, the A’s add a younger pitcher who could potentially help them in the future. Meanwhile, Urshela’s playing time at third base can go to younger guys like Harris or Max Schuemann.
With the trade deadline having passed, Urshela will end up on waivers in the coming days. Given his performance this year and his salary, he’s sure to clear. He has enough service time to reject an outright assignment and elect free agency while still collecting the remainder of that salary. The A’s might skip that formality and release him. Once on the open market, they will still be on the hook for that money. If Urshela ends up on another big league roster, the signing club would only owe him the prorated portion of the league minimum salary for any time spent on the roster, with that amount subtracted from what the A’s pay.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Kucin Jr., Imagn Images
Gio coming home to the Yankees?
Couldn’t hurt to give him a shot.
Yes, it absolutely could.
Aaaand it’s a wrap. Nice knowing you, Gio.
@Chucky, that would be nice, but there is no room for him. He’s probably heading back to Detroit to be with Gleyber
Hard NO! Try again. Gleyber is a rental himself, no one is signing this boat anchor. Time to retire.
Sox should retaliate and pick up Gio. Always liked him
Looks like the end is near for Urshela.
Solid 10 year MLB career. $26 million in earnings. Played on some good teams, had some big moments.
Gio to Minnesota
Brett Harris is such a unique prospect in that he’s a plus defender at 3b, but because of his arm action, he can’t play the middle infield at all. So he basically has to be a starting 3b, or a backup corner infielder, and he hasn’t shown the bat to fit those roles. 3b is wide open for the A’s though so if he can hit he’ll play
Braves’s legends
Ahhhh I still remember the day (6/20/21) when the A’s Sean Murphy grounded to Gio, who started a game ending triple play, heard it live on the radio… haven’t really forgiven him since but much respect for playing for the A’s
From 2019 through 2024 Gio averaged 2.35 bWAR making this year his first below average year. In 2025 he does have 14 doubles in 181 AB’s. He’s still got a little bit of line drive pop left and can help somebody.
MLB Average is generally 2.0 bWAR
Gio has been below that mark in 7 of his 10 ML seasons
Yes, he has been an average player in just 3
Hes also been below replacement level 4 times overall now, and has averaged a basically replacement level 0.2 the last 3 seasons (with this season’s -0.9 of course being the worst hes ever been)
Gio will definitely be claimed on waivers or sign with another team. Eventhough, Detroit released him last year they were fairly happy with him. It came down to a 40 man roster spot. Braves, seemed to like him last year,too. Decent defender,some speed, multiple positions, some line drive power, affordable, signing probably with a contender.
I really liked Urshela, but his power numbers have waned the past two seasons and at age 33, not sure that it will ever return. His overall offensive numbers have also gone south over the same period of time.
with the Muncy injury Urshela could be a stopgap for the Dodgers
Could have been but the Dodgers just claimed Buddy Kennedy from the Blue Jay’s. Buddy can play a pretty good 3rd base.
braves probably pick him up
Guardians take a stab him, and dfa jones.
Urshella seemed like he wasn’t motivated playing on the A’s. Not that I blame him, but the times he jogged to first base on grounders, he could have made it quicker if he stopped for some coffee and donuts along the way.
Shuster is the poster boy for tying your kid’s right arm behind their back until they are in high school. He’s proof all you have to do is throw left-handed and you’re going to get signed by an MLB team. Career ERA in AAA above 5 and 4.27 in the minor leagues overall…somehow this guy gets called up to the big leagues. Repeatedly.
Amazing.