It’s anyone’s guess what free agency will look like when we get there at the end of the 2020 season. Odds are, it won’t be particularly lucrative for older first basemen. But Astros first bagger Yuli Gurriel is among the top players available and could draw wide interest if he’s able to repeat his productive 2019 effort.
To the extent Gurriel is pondering his future, he’s thinking more about where he’ll be than how much he’ll make. If he gets his way, Gurriel told reporters including Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter), he’ll return to the Houston organization.
This is actually the fourth anniversary of the ’Stros announcement of their five-year, $47.5MM deal with Gurriel. The long-time Cuban star was considered a clear MLB talent, though there were questions about how productive he’d be at a relatively advanced age.
There have been a few ups and downs, but Gurriel has generally provided strong offensive output. He was at his best in 2019, when he launched 31 home runs and slashed .298/.343/.541 in 612 plate appearances.
Gurriel could have opted into arbitration this past offseason, but instead negotiated a $300K boost over and above the $8MM salary he was already promised. His contract still provides for termination at the end of the 2020 season, thus preventing the Astros from retaining him through arbitration.
It remains to be seen if the Houston club will share Gurriel’s interest in a reunion. Cost efficiency will surely be a primary consideration for the data-driven club, which will be looking to account for the departure of numerous big bats. We haven’t had any opportunity to see the roster-building proclivities of new GM James Click. The former Rays exec certainly came up in a culture that rewarded creative tinkering over big splashes.
The body might age and become less productive on the field, but that hair will be effective forever!
It’s an electric look for sure.
Good versatile player. Really improved his defense at first base the past couple of years.
I’d want to stay where I knew what pitch was coming for every home AB too. Sure he may wear a few this year, but that’s just another stat that the astros system will successfully drive up. MVP machine will talk about how the Astros advanced training increased obp, excellent work by an excellent organization!
Congrats, you win the first trash can joke of this Astros writing
Love that hairdo….looks like one of the pinheads from ‘Freaks’.
We accept him, one of us! Gooble Gobble!
I bet there are about 25-29 teams out there who say I wish our first baseman would have launched 31 home runs and slashed .298/.343/.541 in 612 plate appearances….
Exactly, and would trade for him in a heartbeat if he were available.
What happened to him wanting to play on the same team Lourdes?
L had that opportunity and chose to sign elsewhere.
Every pending FA has to have an article in which they say they would like to remain with their current team. Standard operating procedure.
It’ll be hard/impossible to use 2020’s “season” to determine anything about possible age-related decline, so who knows what will happen. Yordan can/should play some 1b, which would allow for the acquisition of just about any offensive player from a position standpoint. Not that it really matters, since the odds of us retaining George, Brantley, and Reddick (they’d pass on him anyway) are astronomical.
Plenty of promise in the pipeline too, I could see Yuli taking a walk for a larger payday somewhere else.
Great point. I (kinda) feel bad for free agents this offseason. Betts should get a better deal than Harper or Machado. I’m not sure who his agent is, but Yuli seems the type that might give the “hometown discount” and stay with Astros.
Dude is lights out with runners on. Any vet team would be lucky to have him.
I wish I lived in the glass house that everyone here obviously quarantines in about living the perfect life they’ve never said anything or done anything that could be judged racist or inappropriate. Get over yourselves.
Nope. Most teams care about winning.
That picture sure is interesting, his face looks like a 48 year old man that somebody photoshopped an 18 year olds head of hair on.
Except for a few FA’s like Mookie Betts I don’t see many getting big money contracts after the big economic Hit by almost every Corporation took especially all the MLB team owners whom I believe are still upset with the MLBPA plus 2021 it’s the last year of the current Contract so I only see single year contracts with big numbers as it protects both parties going forward so while I’m sure Yuli would like to play with his Younger Brother its a safer bet he stays In Houston yet any things possible