The Houston Astros’ plans for first base probably never touched Yuli Gurriel after they signed Jose Abreu, but they’re still saying goodbye to another starter from their championship teams.
Gurriel, a batting champion and 2021 Golden Glove winner, made a deal with the Miami Marlins during spring training. according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. It’s a minor league deal, according to Mark Fine Sand of MLB.com.
The move would end his seven-season stint in Houston, in which Gurriel hit .284/.328/.448 with 94 home runs and 394 RBIs, mostly working at the club every day as a first baseman. Gurriel won two rings with the Astros as a starter for last season’s championship team and a 2017 title ruined by the scam and his Yu Darvish incident.
Entering his 39-year season, Gurriel found his options limited after a career-worst .242/.288/.360 record last season. The Astros went further, signing former Chicago White Sox MVP Abreu to a three-year, $58 million contract, while Gurriel, who signed with the Astros after fleeing Cuba, ultimately failed to find a guaranteed spot on the roster.
The Marlins were supposed to field Garrett Cooper at first base this season, but the fact that he hasn’t played more than 120 games in a season in six years likely made the team interested in reliable backing.
In addition to Gurriel, this off-season, the Astros said goodbye to reigning Cy Young winner Justin Verlander and general manager James Schelk, not to mention past names like Carlos Correa, George Springer and Gerrit Cole, who left on free agency terms.
The Astros have so far successfully covered these developmental openings, and they are already covered at first base by Abreu.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
