Former Yankees Infielder Becomes Free Agent

He was a solid contributor for a couple of seasons for the New York Yankees just a few years back, now the utility infielder finds himself as a free agent and available to any team needing help down the stretch. Gio Urshela has cleared outright waivers from the Detroit Tigers.

Infielder Gio Urshela has cleared outright waivers.

He is now on unconditional release waivers and will be postseason-eligible for a new @MLB team if he signs by Aug. 31. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) August 18, 2024

Urshela, 32 is now on unconditional release waivers and, per insider Jon Morosi, will be eligible for a postseason roster for any team that signs him by Aug. 31st.

The utility infielder got in 300 at-bats with the Tigers this season, but batted just .243, well below his marks of the past few seasons, and managed just five homers and an OPS+ of just 73.

With the Yankees in 2019-2020, Urshela hit well over .300 with an OPS+ of 135 over those two seasons. He dropped off in 2021 becoming a slightly below-average hitter with a 96 OPS+, then had a nice turnaround season with the Minnesota Twins in 2022.

The past two years, Urshela hasn't provided very much production at the plate for either the Los Angeles Angels ('23) or the Tigers ('24).

He does have some playoff experience, with 22 postseason games played with the Yankees, and can play any of the infield positions in a pinch, though 3B and 1B are his most familiar spots.

He'll now try to catch on with a contender (or any other team) that needs his services down the last six weeks of the season, and potentially into October.