After addressing their need for starting pitching earlier this winter, the Athletics can now check third base off their offseason wish list.
The A’s landed the experienced third baseman they were looking for on Sunday by signing veteran infielder Gio Urshela to a one-year contract. The deal, first reported on Thursday, guarantees Urshela a base salary of $2.15 million with up to $400,000 in incentives, a source told MLB.com.
Urshela, 33, has carved out a track record of solid production as a career .273 hitter over his nine big league seasons. He split time between the Tigers and Braves in 2024 and combined to hit .250 with nine home runs, 19 doubles and 52 RBIs in 128 games. Urshela improved his offensive game considerably after joining Atlanta in August, helping the Braves down the stretch during a playoff run by slashing .304/.328/.554 with a 141 wRC+ over his final 15 games.
Already possessing a potent lineup anchored by sluggers such as Brent Rooker, Lawrence Butler and Shea Langeliers, defense is what the A’s really placed a premium on in their search for a third baseman this offseason, and Urshela certainly fits the bill. He’s consistently graded out as an above average defender at the hot corner over the past several seasons, making him an ideal candidate to man third base on an everyday basis for an A’s club that went through multiple players at the position last season and struggled to find a consistent reliable option.
While it may not be a flashy signing, Urshela continues an offseason in which the A’s have steadily worked to supplement their promising young core that played above .500 over the second half of 2024 with pieces they believe can help vault them into contention next season. The rotation has already been upgraded with the additions of Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs, and there is still plenty of time for the A’s to make additional moves.
“It’s still mid-December and we’re really excited with how the team is shaping up,” A’s general manager David Forst said earlier this month. “There are open conversations. I think we’ll have to weigh those with the opportunities we have at other spots. I wouldn’t rule [adding another starter] out.”