The Marlins are among the many groups to precise curiosity in free agent infielder Gio Urshela, studies Jon Morosi of MLB Community. Each the Yankees and Mets have been reported to have curiosity as properly earlier within the offseason. Miami is understood to be exploring the free agent marketplace for infield assist, with different reported targets together with Tim Anderson, Amed Rosario, Nick Ahmed and Adalberto Mondesi.
Not like that quarter, the 32-year-old Urshela presents solely minimal expertise at shortstop — the likeliest place on the diamond if he indicators in Miami. The Marlins have Jake Burger and Josh Bell lined up on the infield corners, with Luis Arraez penciled in at second base. The Fish might probably make the most of Burger at designated hitter extra typically (or transfer him to first base with Bell taking DH reps) with the intention to release a while on the scorching nook for Urshela, however discovering assist at shortstop has been a precedence for Miami this winter.
Urshela has performed some shortstop in his profession, together with 71 innings with the Angels this previous season. He’s logged a complete of 359 frames on the place general (plus one other 276 within the minors) however has been primarily a 3rd baseman — a place at which he’s logged greater than 12,000 innings between the large leagues and the minors.
Whereas there is likely to be some questions on Urshela’s match as a main shortstop, there’s little doubt in his skill to hit. Courting again to a 2019 breakout with the Yankees, Urshela carries a .291/.335/.452 batting line in 1871 journeys to the plate. He’s struck out at an 18.9% clip general in that point however improved his bat-to-ball abilities over the previous two seasons between Anaheim and Minnesota; since Opening Day 2022 he’s fanned in simply 16.9% of his plate appearances.
Strong as his profession has been since turning into a giant league common, Urshela can also be one thing of a rebound candidate. His energy output with the Angels was curiously low to start the 2023 season, with simply two house runs and a paltry .075 ISO (slugging minus batting common) by way of mid-June. He by no means bought a lot of an opportunity to rebound after struggling a pelvic fracture on June 15 of final season. Urshela didn’t require surgical procedure however was on crutches within the aftermath of the harm and wound up lacking the rest of the season because it healed.
The Marlins are the one workforce in MLB that hasn’t signed a free agent to a significant league contract this offseason. Urshela, presumably, would change that. Regardless of his standing as a veteran trying to bounce again from a notable (and unusual) harm, his observe file is robust sufficient that he should command a giant league deal, if not a two-year pact. The Marlins at present venture for a $97MM payroll, per Roster Useful resource, which is about $13MM shy of the place they wrapped up the 2023 season.
A extra exact payroll determine will come into clearer focus as soon as the membership resolves arbitration eventualities with its two costliest candidates. Each Arraez and nearer Tanner Scott exchanged arb figures with the workforce after failing to return to phrases on an settlement final month. Arraez submitted a $12MM request towards the workforce’s $10.6MM submitting, whereas Scott’s camp is searching for a $5.7MM wage towards the Marlins’ $5.15MM submission.