Another potential acquisition target for the Boston Red Sox has been taken off the market. Gio Urshela has reached a one-year agreement with the Detroit Tigers, as reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan, valued at $1.5 million. While sources indicated the Red Sox had expressed interest in the infielder, they did not distinguish themselves from other interested teams, nor did they aggressively pursue Urshela’s services.
Primarily a third baseman throughout his career, Urshela was likely viewed by Boston as a right-handed hitting option who could serve as a backup to Rafael Devers and potentially play first base. However, the Tigers, also in need of a right-handed infielder, found Urshela to be a fitting addition. His strong performance against left-handed pitchers, boasting a lifetime batting average of .290 and hitting .373 during the 2023 MLB season, made him particularly attractive to Detroit.
Urshela previously spent three seasons with the Yankees before being traded to the Minnesota Twins in a deal involving Josh Donaldson. He later joined the Angels during the 2022 offseason to bolster their infield depth but was limited to 62 games due to a pelvis fracture in June, sidelining him for the rest of the season despite avoiding surgery.
With Urshela now healthy, the Tigers have addressed a positional need while gaining a seasoned player with versatility for their infield.
