Gio Urshela’s baseball journey just added another stop after his stint with the Atlanta Braves. The veteran third baseman has officially signed with the Oakland Athletics. And yes, it’s a big-league deal, pending a physical.
Ken Rosenthal broke the news, and Martín Gallegos over at MLB.com confirmed it’d be a one-year contract. So, A’s fans, say hello to your newest hot corner contender. He is getting another shot after being one of handful of free-agent Braves players left this offseason.
This will be Urshela’s sixth team in just five seasons. Six teams! The man’s been on more road trips than a cross-country trucker. His 2024 season started off with the Detroit Tigers, who inked him to a modest $1.5 million one-year contract.
His time in Detroit wasn’t exactly a home run. In 92 games, he hit a .243 average with a .286 OBP and a .333 slugging percentage — not to mention just five homers and 37 RBIs.
Gio Urshela Released By Detroit and Picked Up By the Braves
Then, things took a sharp turn in August. After getting released by the Tigers on August 18, Urshela found himself with the Atlanta Braves two days later. The timing couldn’t have been better for Atlanta.
They desperately needed some infield stability after Austin Riley went down with a fractured hand. While Urshela wasn’t some instant miracle, he managed to help steady the ship during a brutal stretch of injuries.
With the Braves, he played 36 games and actually started to turn things around. His slash line bumped up to .265/.287/.424 with four home runs and 15 RBIs.
In the final 12 games of the season, Urshela flipped the switch. He caught fire, slashing .348/.362/.630 with three homers and eight RBIs. The man even threw in four doubles for good measure.
Add it all up between his time in Detroit and Atlanta, and Urshela ended the season with a .250 average, nine home runs, and 52 RBIs in 461 plate appearances.
Urshela Signs with the Oakland A’s
Now he’s taking that momentum to the Athletics, a team that’s going through its own kind of transition. They’ll set up shop in Sacramento for at least the next three seasons before moving to Las Vegas.
The A’s aren’t exactly spoiled for choice at third base right now. Urshela has a real shot at locking down that starting spot if he can keep that late-season magic alive.
So, what should A’s fans expect? Urshela’s a seasoned pro with flashes of brilliance and solid defensive skills. If he can string together some consistent performances, he could be a steadying force in a lineup that desperately needs one.
Plus, if his recent streak with the Braves is any indication, there’s potential for some timely hitting. With another player off the board this offseason, here is the list of Braves free agents this offseason.