FEB. 28, 11:27am: The Indians announced that the signing is official. He’ll earn a base salary of $4MM with another $1.5MM available via performance bonuses, as Jordan Bastian of MLB.com tweets.
FEB. 24, 7:34pm: Uribe’s base salary with the Indians is $4MM, Olney tweets. He can earn more via incentives.
5:31pm: Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal tweets that the Indians are working through some visa issues with Uribe, and his contract is still pending a physical.
FEB. 19: The Indians have reached agreement on a deal with free agent third baseman Juan Uribe, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports on Twitter. Uribe will earn just under $5MM in the deal, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reports on Twitter.
This match-up has long been rumored, so the reports don’t come as much of a surprise. But there still may be a few days to wait for official word, as several reports suggest that Uribe will need some time to obtain visa clearance. He still needs to complete a physical to make the deal official.
Uribe will turn 37 in March, but he’s shown no signs of slowing down in recent years. Coming off of a pair of rough campaigns in 2011-12, Uribe has run off three consecutive stellar efforts. Over 1,227 plate appearances since, he owns a .281/.329/.432 slash with 35 home runs.
Of course, Uribe is known more for his glove — and dynamic clubhouse presence — than for his bat. Once a high-quality middle infielder, Uribe has settled in as a top-shelf third baseman in recent seasons. Both UZR and DRS saw a dip in his glovework last year, but he was still a firmly average option and may well have some big contributions left.
It remains to be seen just how heavily Cleveland will rely on the veteran, but odds are he’ll see plenty of action. The club still has 24-year-old Giovanny Urshela on hand, of course, and he showed a quality glove at the hot corner last year. He wasn’t much use at the plate, but did have a strong 2014 campaign at Triple-A and could certainly have some growth ahead of him.
A strict platoon between Uribe and Urshela doesn’t make immediate sense given that both hit from the right side. It could be, then, that the younger player heads off for more seasoning to start the year. Jose Ramirez, a switch-hitter who’s generally been better against right-handed pitching, could be the more promising part-time tandem piece for the Indians — particularly since he doesn’t figure to spend much time filling in up the middle with Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis locked into everyday roles.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Great pick up for the tribe. Quality player in every aspect.
Good sign for the Tribe. Uribe is a class act
Good for him. Now where does Freese sign lol
He will sign soon now that hes the last remaining option…you would never guess this guy was a World Series MVP by the lack of interest in him
I’m hoping he goes back to the Angels
Big positive both on the field and in the dugout.
Not too happy about this move. Would rather see Urshela continue to get solid playing time at the hot corner. I’m sick of these one year contracts for players who are past their prime.
It’s insurance if urshela sucks or gets hurt. Need depth for the long haul, man
Chiz can play 3B if needed. We’re not going to compete this year anyways. I don’t see the point in this signing at all.
you serious? have you watched chiz at 3rd? you really want to move him from rf where he was a gold glove fielder for 2-3 months to a spot where he was terrible defensively? while i also am not a huge fan of the uribe move, mostly cause i thought urshela was gonna have a break out year if he had regular playing time, i also see the value of adding 3rd base depth. and also, you do realize that the majority of analytic sites pick the indians to win the central right? you never should punt on a season when you have the kind of starting pitching the indians have.
He said “if needed”. He wasn’t suggesting they move him back there full time. Believe it or not, Chisenhall, in a small sample of 406 innings at 3B last year, was valued at 7 DRS and a 10.3 UZR/150. He’s not the worst guy the Indians could pick to man the hot corner. I mean, you’re acting like he’s Pablo Sandoval.
As a Red Sox fan, you’re mention of Pablo Sandoval made me laugh as I read your comment.
It’s a good signing for the Indians. Urshella still needs time to develop his hitting & regain strength in his shoulder at AAA. Uribe & Jose Ramirez can anchor 3B with splitting time at the position. Ramirez should defensively replace Uribe in close games late. Gio was rushed to the big leagues early last season due to Chiz. hitting a robust .219. Gio is our future 3B, only IF his hitting improves. Gio can now gain confidence in his approach & swing at AAA. If necessary due to injuries or lack of production from Jose Ramirez. Gio will be more MLB ready mid-season & help the Indians with a playoff push.
You guys are stupid. Uribe move is the best thing they could have done. This will win them the division. You now have an elite defensive and solidly offensive infield. Your outfield is Also excellent
Idiot!!!
pretty convenient stat cherry picking, you look at his 406 innings at 3rd last year, but ignore the near 2000 innings he accumulated from 2012-2014 at 3rd base where he had a -28.7, -4.6 and -15 uzr/150 and -4, +1 and -14 drs. you compare that to the panda, and yeah, he was just as bad. as an indians fan, i don’t need the advanced metrics, my own eyes tell me he was terrible at 3rd.
right now, his bat can’t be relied upon, so his only value is in his defense in the outfield, so no, he is not even an option to back up at 3rd.
as a redsox fan, it made me laugh, then cry because we are stuck with him 🙁
You are right. I have no doubt this will give them the division title they have sought.
He’s not past his prime at all. He may be old, but with the Mets last season, quality hit after quality hit. He’s also one of the great clubhouse attitudes you could possibly have around. I think it’s a great move. Also, Urshela might still need some time before he gets an everyday role, that’s why it would only be on year.
You Juan him, you got him.
He and the Indians are a perfect fit. No one else wanted to sign him and the Indians couldn’t get anyone else to go there.
We miss you a lot Juan… Puig is crying!
Tribe Fans….Enjoy another year out of the running!
You all speak as if this could be the FINAL piece to the puzzle.
Harsh reality but true….second division club.
Don’t lump all of us Tribe fans in with that sentiment. I certainly don’t feel like adding Uribe gives us much at all beyond another $4MM spent on a 1 year contract for an aging ballplayer.
There’s something I’m clearly not understanding here. How does a guy who’s been playing baseball professionally in the US for nearly 20 years still have visa issues? It’s been a decade since his implication in that shooting in the DR yet he was cleared. How does this guy still have to jump through hoops every year?
He had some legal troubles when he was younger and that is usually part of the issue. This isn’t a bad signing by Cleveland I just hope he comes into camp in shape. He has gotten a bit big these last couple years and at age 37, you cannot get away with being heavy if you expect to produce well. Cleveland is pretty good at signing free agents at the end of their career, which Davis, Napoli and Uribe all have a few years left. The minor league free agents they sign usually have life left just need to get back into playing pro ball. Those signings always seem to do the best for them. Luckily this season wasn’t about getting an impact free agent but guys who can help lead this young team. Remember the last time the Indians made the playoff, their clubhouse leader was Trot Nixon who barely played. They need a few leaders and all three guys will give them that presence they need. (Aka the second youngest ball club last year)
As a White sox Fan I think every team in this division will be competitive.
If the Sox did not get Frazier I would have liked them to get Uribe.
WHAT A STEAL. He is so fast, I can not even watch him round the bases unless I use slow speed on ;my video control.