The veteran signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Tigers during free agency and has spent most of the season with the team. However, Detroit decided to designate and release Urshela last week due to his struggles, opting instead to give opportunities to younger players with greater potential.
The #Braves today signed INF Gio Urshela to a major league contract and placed INF Austin Riley on the 10-day injured list, backdated to August 19, with a fractured right hand. To make room on the 40-man roster, Atlanta transferred A.J. Minter to the 60-day injured list.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 20, 2024
Atlanta Braves Sign Gio Urshela To A Major League Deal
The Braves didn’t sign Urshela expecting him to put up Riley-like numbers. After all, he hit just .243/.286/.333 (73 wRC+) over 92 games with the Tigers this season, and his last above-average season by wRC+ was in 2022.
However, with postseason aspirations still in play, the Braves see a better chance of Urshela keeping them competitive in the Wild Card race than relying on unproven internal options. Rookie Nacho Alvarez Jr., a top prospect, has struggled significantly this season with a wRC+ of -27, and veteran Luke Williams hasn’t fared much better, producing a wRC+ of zero.
Gio Urshela tacks on another run in the 8th, his first home run of the year. Dan Dickerson on the call #RepDetroit pic.twitter.com/1BjM995aJO
— Dan Dickerson Calls📞 (@dannydHRs) May 31, 2024
The Braves have had success in revitalizing struggling veterans in the past, and while that hasn’t been the case this year, taking a chance on Urshela comes with little risk. The Tigers are covering most of the $1.5 million he’s owed this year, so Atlanta will only need to pay the prorated league minimum for the time he’s on the roster or injured list.
It’s not out of the question that Urshela could catch fire in Atlanta and help push the team into the postseason. He’s posted a better OPS (.658) in away games this year than at home (.583) in the pitcher-friendly Comerica Park. More games away from Comerica could improve his overall performance with the Braves.
For a Braves team that has quickly lost its grip on a postseason spot, there’s no harm in finding out.
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