MLB Rumors: Surprising Team Linked To Yuli Gurriel If Marlins Cut Bait

Yuli Gurriel had only known one team throughout his seven-year major league career before becoming a free agent this past offseason. But the Houston Astros had signed a huge upgrade for first base in Jose Abreu, leaving Gurriel to look for a new job.

It took the 38-year-old the entirety of the winter to finally land a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins last week. But if the team doesn't add Gurriel to the 40-man roster by Saturday, being a six-plus-year veteran, he's able to opt-out and become a free agent again.

Strangely enough, a report today has the Astros being considered a possibility to re-sign him—despite the fact that they never made a formal offer to him after the '22 season. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports, "if he doesn’t make the Marlins, he could return to the Astros."

Heyman cites the 'Stros injury concerns with three of their stars — Jose Altuve (out two months with a broken thumb), Yordan Alvarez (finally just having played his first spring training game) and Michael Brantley (the oft-injured OF is coming off shoulder surgery and has been away from the team this spring due to a personal matter).

And, says, Heyman, Gurriel has one more big plus on his side: manager Dusty Baker loves the guy.

After a down year in 2022, Gurriel is having an absolutely brutal spring in his bid to make the Marlins' roster, hitting just .125 (2-for-16) with an absurdly low .301 OPS. It is very possible that the Marlins could cut bait on him, leaving him to re-join his former team if they're so interested.

But not all Astros fans are on board.

Jon Heyman speculates today that the Astros may re-sign Gurriel if he doesn’t make the Marlins (he hasn’t hit well since signing).

We have plenty of young bats worthy of DH opportunities while guys are hurt. A Yuli reunion would be a troubling sign of how decisions are made.
— Mike Mitchell (@MikeMitchNH) March 24, 2023